UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 35 
The wood of balm of Gilead, a tree which resembles the aspen, is not 
liked because it is shaky and otherwise defective. The white or 
paper birch is sometimes used when supplies are available and is 
said to make a good pail. Second-growth white pine, if not too 
defective, is also fairly satisfactory. 
Factories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have difficulty 
in getting sufficient suitable timber, and those which are not located 
conveniently to a supply from the northern parts of these States 
have in some cases been compelled to go out of business or move 
farther north. Even this supply is becoming so scarce that large 
manufacturers realize that they must look to new territory. It is 
probable that a large part of the industry will be transferred in the 
near future to the Pacific coast, where, in some instances, tracts of 
softwood timber have been already acquired for the purpose. 
A large demand exists for pails of the kind just described. As a 
rule, they are not used a second time, on account of the cost of ship- 
ment and because they find a ready sale at retail stores. 
The cheese box is another common woodenware commodity made 
of basswood. Small cheese boxes used for shipping fancy cheeses 
are commonly made of basswood throughout. Veneer is used for 
the sides, and small pieces of thicker stock for the bottoms and covers. 
Basswood is also sometimes used for the heading for large cheese 
boxes; for the sides of these larger boxes a strong tough wood, such 
as elm, is required. In making the small cheese boxes the better 
grade of logs is used for the veneer, and low-grade and small logs 
are sawed into lumber for the bottoms and tops. Such lumber, even 
though defective, yields a large amount of the small, clear pieces 
required. Basswood is easy to manufacture into this product and 
makes a light and attractive box for the purpose. 
A very large number of other articles of woodenware are commonly 
made of basswood. Important among these are kitchen utensils, 
such as bread boards and boards for cutting slaw and other vege- 
tables; also such articles as bowls and candlesticks, which are turned 
on the lathe and to which hand carving may be added. Cloth boards 
on which goods are wound, lap boards, and cutting boards of various 
kinds are commonly of basswood, because it is white, light in weight, 
and not so readily split as many other light woods. Small, clear 
pieces of waste basswood are often worked into such articles as fan 
handles. Wooden novelties of many kinds, often sold as souvenirs, 
are made cf basswood because of its good working qualities. Check- 
ers and dominoes are commonly of this wood, because it shows paint- 
ing to excellent advantage. Basswood is the favorite wood for 
pyrography because of its whiteness, although little is now used in 
this way. Porch shades, snow shovels, and ladders are other articles 
in which basswood is valued because of its light weight. Because it 
