UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 55 
Large cooperage and woodenware factories get their timber very 
largely from their own tracts. Small firms must usually depend on 
purchase from various sources. Cooperage factories use logs 7 inches 
and over in diameter at the small end for barrel heading. Factories 
making pails and tubs use the largest quantities of basswood. They 
generally prefer woods-run logs, for which they pay about $30 a 
thousand board feet on board cars at loading point, taking sizes 
down to 6 inches in diameter at the small end (PL VII) . Lengths of 8 
to 10 feet are preferred, but shorter lengths of about 3 feet are often 
purchased. Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which are small and 
largely defective, often with hollow centers, and pay about $15 a 
thousand board feet loaded on cars. Logs 6 inches and up in diam- 
eter are taken if not too defective, and even some 4-inch sizes are 
accepted if they are of good quality. Hollow logs with a 4-inch shell 
are taken by some factories if they are otherwise sound. Second- 
growth, clear, white basswood is preferred by these factories because 
it makes a much more attractive pail. Last-block manufacturers 
purchase basswood logs as small as 12 inches in diameter at the small 
end. Factories making ladders sometimes buy basswood in the log 
also. 
Box factories in many instances buy basswood in the log. The 
logs are also frequently used for the manufacture of vegetable crates. 
BOLTS. 
Basswood in bolt form is used by excelsior and pulpwood plants. 
Excelsior wood should be of good quality, sound, reasonably straight, 
and free from knots. Lengths of 36, 37, 54, and 55 inches are the 
most common ones specified, and a minimum diameter of 4 inches 
is accepted. Diameters of 7 to 12 inches are required to be split in 
half, over 12 inches split into four pieces, and very large sizes split 
in proportion. Some firms require that the large bolts be split to 
the heart into pieces 6 to 8 inches wide on the bark side. Excelsior 
wood is usually purchased green and unpeeled or dry and peeled. 
Some factories accept peeled stock in the green or partially air- 
seasoned condition. Usual prices paid for 36 and 37 inch lengths 
are $3 to $4 a cord with bark, and $4 to $5 peeled; for 54 and 55 
inch lengths the prices are proportionately greater. The cord for all 
lengths given is 4 feet high and 8 feet long. These prices are for wood 
on board cars at loading point. The price at the factory is usually 50 to 
75 cents a cord more for 37-inch wood. Excelsior wood should not be 
allowed to dry with the bark on, because it can be barked satisfactorily 
only when the wood is green. Wood which has thoroughly air sea- 
soned is most acceptable ; ordinarily it should not stand more than two 
years, however, as it may become brittle and is likely to be attacked 
by decay, which impairs its value- If it is to stand in piles for any 
