UTILIZATION OF SYCAMOKE. 13 
large supplies of sycamore readily available. The tobacco interests 
are responsible for the large amounts used in the two last-mentioned 
States. More than half of the approximately one million feet" of 
sycamore reported by Illinois factories went into baskets and fruit 
packages. 
Sycamore seems to stand small chance as box material in the future 
in competition with red gum, on account of the large amounts of 
red gum readily available. The amount of sycamore reported for 
this industry (approximately 17,000,000 feet) is small in comparison 
with the 409,000,000 feet of red gum reported; and there is probably 
less sycamore being used now than when this amount was reported. 
An average cost of $16.50 per 1,000 board feet at the factory was 
reported for sycamore for boxes and crates, as compared with about 
$14 for red gum. The fact that somewhat more is paid for sycamore 
than for red gum for these uses shows that there is still a good demand 
for sycamore. 
SLACK COOPERAGE. 
Statistics of the Bureau of the Census on the slack cooperage 
industry for 1909 show a production of 17,831,000 sycamore staves 
and 661,000 sets. of sycamore heading in that year. Forest Service 
statistics for 1918 give a production of 21,384,000 staves and 319,000 
sets of heading, an equivalent of over 7,000,000 board feet. Syca- 
more is a good wood for staves and heading for the same reason as 
for boxes. It makes a clean, good-looking, strong barrel, and is, 
therefore, in demand for sugar and flour barrels, especially for the 
former, which are used more than once. Staves of the highest grade 
go principally into these two kinds of barrels. They must have a 
clean appearance and must make a tight joint. The sycamore stave 
fulfills these requirements and has the additional advantage of hold- 
ing the hoop well because it has a slightly roughened surface. 
Slack staves are cut out from steamed bolts. They are brought 
against the knife by a carriage which is pivoted and moves in the 
arc of a circle, giving the staves their curved form. They are cut 
nearly or quite on the quarter, which gives a minimum amount of 
warping and splitting, since shrinkage in the radial direction is much 
less than in the tangential. The edges of the staves must be cut at 
a slight angle in order to make a fairly tight joint. This is now done 
by a band saw instead of a knife, as formerly, since the knife leaves 
more or less ragged edges. 
Sycamore staves of high grade are generally a little lower priced 
than elm staves and a little higher than gum. Number 2 grade is 
usually made up of mixed woods and is used in barrels for packing 
crockery, glassware, and provisions of various kinds. 
The following States reported relatively large amounts of sycamore 
slack cooperage manufactured: Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illi- 
