UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 
Table 1. — Actual and comparative properties of basswood timber. 
( Pennsylvania. 
' I Wisconsin. 
Locality where grown 
Weight per cubic foot : 
Green pounds. . 41 
Air-dry do 26 
Kiln-dry do.... 25 
Specific gravity, oven-dry, based on volume when green 0. 325 
Shrinkage from green to oven-dry condition : 
In volume (1) per cent.. 15. 8 
Radial (2) do 6.6 
Tangential (3) do 19. 3 
Comparative shrinkage (twice volume plus radial plus tangential divided by 
3) per cent.. 15.8 
Strength in bending at 12 per cent moisture: (4) 
Modulus of rupture pounds per sq. in . . 836. 5 
Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 56 
Strength in compression parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (5) 
Maximum crushing strength pounds per sq. in. . 4, 542 
Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 62 
Shearing strength parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (6) 
Shearing strength pounds per sq. in. . 1, 000 
Relative shearing strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 49 
Composite values: 
Strength as a beam or post 6, 350 
Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 61 
Hardness — 284 
Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 27 
Shock-resisting ability 5. 48 
Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 42 
Stiffness 1, 231 
Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 81 
Note.— Each of the composite values given in this table is a weighted average of several values derived 
from different kinds of strength tests. For instance, strength as a beam or post is a combination of values 
derived from tests in static bending, impact bending, and compression parallel to grain. 
l=in volume; 2=radial; 3=tangential; 4=strength in bending; 5=strengthin 
grain; 6= shearing strength parallel to grain. 
Table 2 gives the relative properties of yellow poplar, cottonwood, 
and white pine compared with basswood, since these three woods are 
often put to the same uses as basswood. This table indicates that 
basswood is softer than any of these woods, also lighter in the oven- 
dry condition. In the green condition basswood is heavier than 
either yellow poplar or white pine because of the higher moisture 
content of the basswood. Cottonwood, however, is much heavier 
than basswood when green. Air-dry material of these four species 
does not differ greatly in weight. Basswood shrinks more than the 
other species given and its strength values are, in general, lower. 
