44 BULLETIN" 909, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
manufacturer generally cuts dimension material merely to use his 
low-gracle lumber and get a return from stock which, is difficult to 
market. There has been and still is a wide range in selling prices for 
dimension material. A price as low as $30 a thousand board feet, 
before the war, was reported for small clear stock cut from No. 2 
common, and as high as $80 for chair stock cut from waste. Differ- 
ences in price depend to a large degree on the quality of the stock. 
Notwithstanding the many objections to the use of dimension ma- 
terial, its manufacture in standard sizes in large quantity is success- 
fully carried on. Dimension stock should be clear of defects and 
first class in every way. Kiln-dried or thoroughly air-dried stock is 
much more satisfactory than green or partially seasoned material. 
Low prices and lack of demand for dimension materials are, in large 
part, the result of the manufacture of improperly seasoned, scant, 
and defective stock. 
Walnut-lumber manufacturers now often recut such low-grade 
lumber as No. 2 common, for which there is a relatively small de- 
mand, into smaller, less- defective pieces, which are classed in a 
higher standard lumber grade or may be sold as a special grade of 
stock that is narrow or short or both narrow and short. This 
remanufacture is generally applied to the lower grades of 4/4, 6/4, 
and 8/4, and to a considerable extent is taking the place of dimen- 
sion manufacture. This method is advantageous in that the fac- 
tories may saw their required pieces from this material, and the 
waste that might result from the purchase and use of dimension 
stock is often avoided. Some lumber manufacturers are disposing 
of their low-grade walnut by running factories in connection with 
their sawmills, in which they utilize the small sizes of material in 
making such products as phonograph cabinets and various kinds of 
boxes and novelties. 
VENEER. 
Because it is so easily worked with tools, walnut is an excellent 
wood for manufacture into veneer. The pleasing appearance due to 
its good color, the different figured effects and the variety of tones 
and patterns which can be obtained from different logs, and its ex- 
cellent finishing qualities combine to make it one of the most satis- 
factory native woods for fine cabinet veneer. The best-growth logs 
are generally sound, well rounded in cross section, straight, and with 
little taper. Our wild cherry is also a good cabinet veneer wood, 
but it lacks the figure of walnut, and even the best timber generally 
has many small defects. Walnut, mahogany, and cherry are said 
to be the most satisfactory cabinet woods for making sliced veneer, 
because they are so easily cut with the veneer knife and make a 
