32 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
basswood is used, however, for interior woodwork, especially for 
ceiling and in the form of wide boards for finishing and panel work. 
On account of its adaptability to cutting with tools, basswood serves 
well for moldings and carved work in interior finish of various kinds. 
Much basswood is also manufactured into bevel siding, but it is not 
so well adapted to exterior work because of its liability to decay. 
Michigan and New York lead in the manufacture of this class of 
products from basswood. Formerly much basswood was used for 
this purpose in Ohio, but increasing scarcity and cost of shipment 
have greatly reduced the quantities going into the industry. Rising 
costs of the upper clear grades have had much to do with discourag- 
ing its use, for the dark-colored and streaked material of the lower 
grades is much less valuable for these purposes. Yellow poplar, 
birch, and the softer grades of pine are now generally used in place 
of basswood. 
"WOODEKWARE AXD XOVELTIES. 
Basswood is made into articles of woodenware used in the ship- 
ment of provisions, such as pails and tubs. It is well liked for such 
uses, because it is light in weight and odorless, and the light color 
of the wood makes a good appearance. On account of its good 
working qualities, it is easy to manufacture into such products. It 
also has the advantage of showing stenciling extremely well. The 
light weight of the wood effects a large saving in freight, both when 
shipped empty to the purchaser and when filled with provisions. 
Basswood is the favorite wood for candy pails, because it gives 
an appearance of cleanliness. For the same reason it is used for 
jelly pails, called ''jelly kits," which are used for the shipment of 
jelly in bulk. Most liquids will seep through basswood, but jelly 
hardens in the wood and prevents the liquid from coming through. 
Fish pails and pickle pails are sometimes made of basswood, in which 
case they must be paraffined to make them water-tight. Such pails 
are made more commonly of a hard pine. Lard pails, lard tubs, 
and grease pails are commonly made of basswood. They are usually 
varnished on the outside and given a finish to resemble the grain of 
oak or some other hardwood. Candy pails are sometimes grained 
in this way also. Fish, pickle, and jelly pails are usually painted 
or decorated in some characteristic manner. 
Generally only the sides and covers of these pails are of basswood. 
The bottoms are usually made of Norway pine, maple, or birch. A 
fairly hard wood is necessary for the bottoms in order to bear the 
weight of the contents of the pail and to make a tight, rigid joint. 
The staves for the sides of these pails are cut from basswood bolts 
by a tight-stave circular saw. After being thoroughly dried they 
are trimmed to the proper length and width and a small tongue and 
groove made along the edge on the two sides (fig. 5). They are 
