UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 
29 
Table 18. — Annual consumption of basswood in the United States by secondary indus- 
tries, by States. 
State. 
Quantity 
used annu- 
ally. 
State. 
Quantity 
used annu- 
ally. 
Feet b. m. 
86, 100, 203 
56, 977, 220 
56, 432, 782 
50, 905, 500 
24, 278, 769 
22, 833, 367 
18, 698, 836 
12,927,003 
6, 642, 000 
6,028,833 
4, 773, 100 
4, 399, 000 
4, 247, 630 
4, 202, 050 
4, 056, 315 
3, 968, 450 
Connecticut 
Feet b. m. 
3, 559. 598 
New York 
Iowa 
3, 237, 040 
3, 096, 826 
Michigan 
New Hampshire 
Virginia 
1,591,900 
Missouri 
1, 527, 587 
909, 000 
Ohio 
Rhode Island 
Delaware 
707, 839 
359, 050 
265, 000 
165, 000 
North Carolina. 
160, 000 
107, 000 
103, 489 
Vermont 
All other States 
317, 895 
Total 
383, 578, 282 
BOXES AND CRATES. 
Woods suitable for the construction of boxes and crates are divided, 
on the basis of their physical and mechanical properties, into four 
groups. Basswood falls into the first group, including the lighter 
woods, which vary in average weights when thoroughly air-dry from 
21 to 35 pounds per cubic foot, are soft and easily worked, hold 
nails moderately well, and do not readily split in nailing. Both 
softwoods (conifers) and hardwoods (broadleaf trees) are represented 
in this group. 
Basswood is very desirable for certain kinds of boxes on account 
of its light weight, white color, and freedom from odor. Its good 
working qualities, freedom from excessive warping and splitting, as 
compared with other light-weight woods, and good nailing qualities 
also help to make it valuable box material. For boxes in which 
heavy merchandise must be shipped or which must stand much rough 
handling, such as boxes for export shipment, stronger and therefore 
heavier woods are demanded. 
For boxes made to hold foodstuffs, such as crackers, chocolate, 
and candy, basswood is the ideal wood. In such boxes the contents 
are often in direct contact with the wood, and no odor or taste is 
imparted by basswood. Basswood is also used for shipping other 
kinds of provisions, such as dressed poultry and butter, because of 
its odorless quality. Boxes for this purpose are sometimes made 
from cheaper resinous woods and paraffined on the inside, but this 
process is expensive. Yellow poplar is used for such boxes, also 
cottonwood and tupelo. although the last two woods are much in- 
clined to warp. 
