34 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
then assembled to form the partly finished pail, which is grooved 
inside to receive the bottom and outside for the wire bands. This is 
next turned smooth and sanded inside and out, the bottom inserted, 
and the bands put on. 
Dark basswood can be used for these pails as well as light. The 
wood must be quite clear, but small, tight knots are not objection- 
able. The timber usually comes to the factory in the form of logs. 
Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which is the grade below the veneer- 
log grade, since they can use sizes as small as 6 inches in diameter 
at the small end. They prefer woods-run logs, however, if these 
are not too high-priced (PL VII) . The pail covers are generally made 
from' the waste in manufacturing staves. Hollow logs, which are 
quite characteristic of basswood, can be utilized to good advantage, 
because the outer sound rim of wood, if not too narrow, can be cut 
into stave bolts and staves with comparatively little waste. Such 
logs can usually be worked much more profitably into staves than 
into lumber. Some hollow logs otherwise sound will yield one-third 
more than the log scale in pail staves, when for lumber there would 
be little if any overrun and only narrow widths could be obtained. 
Logs are generally purchased in 8 to 10 foot lengths, but much 
material is also purchased in lengths of about 3 feet, especially small- 
diameter timber, which is bought of farmers. Hollow logs are 
accepted, but they should have at least a 6-inch rim of sound wood. 
Hollow logs are sometimes taken down to a 4-inch shell, but such 
material often can not be handled at a profit because of the expense 
of the labor to work it up (PL VIII) . Small logs are profitable because 
there is a large overrun in such logs compared with the yield in 
lumber. Although factories prefer the timber not smaller than 6 
inches in diameter, 5-inch and even some 4-inch sizes are taken if 
of good quality. Some manufacturers prefer to purchase. by the 
cord of 128 cubic feet and in 39 and 52-inch lengths. On account of 
the difficulty of getting it cut up, much small material is now shipped 
in 12-foot lentlis. Second-growth timber is considered the best 
quality. 
Prices paid for basswood are quite variable, depending on the 
general quality of the timber and the location; they range from 
about $20 to S30 a thousand board feet f. o. b. cars at loading point. 
Freight costs often amount to $5 to $10 a thousand in addition to this. 
Pail manufacturers of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in 
some instances own extensive timber tracts in the northern parts of 
these States from which they get a large part of their raw material. 
Basswood is becoming scarce even in this region, and manufacturers 
must depend on other species. Aspen is. being used to some extent 
in place of basswood, although the supply is limited, sizes are small, 
and the wood is much inclined to be defective, doty, and discolored. 
