100 
Ohio Biological Survey 
seasons without injury, is easy to work, is durable when kept dry, is 
a good nail holder, and takes paint and stains well. 
Yellow pine is also used as a finishing wood, although white and 
red oak are regarded as its superior. The reasons are that these oaks 
have a pleasing grain, are durable, and best lend themselves to artistic 
treatment. 
Maple is used largely for floors and stairways. Whenever floors 
are subjected to hard wear hard maple is regarded as the ideal wood. 
It stands usage well, wears smoothly, and retains a fine gloss or 
polish. For shingles, redwood, cedar and white pine are the most 
satisfactory. As lath are usually made from the waste or leavings 
of sawed timber, they are often poor in quality. All soft woods 
together with yellow poplar, bass wood, and cottonwood are used 
in their manufacture. 
Boxes, Barrels, Crates, and Retainers Generally—It is estimated 
that in this division 20 per cent of all wood cut finds use. In this 
division is included all forms of cooperage, veneer wood, fibre boxes, 
baskets, trunk frames, and retainers used for storage and transporta¬ 
tion. Although the amount of wood seems incredible the quality is 
of low average value. Over fifty diflferent kinds of wood are used. 
Years ago when white pine was plentiful and cheap, it was in de¬ 
mand for wooden packages. This species has now given way to 
cheaper woods, or when used is of a quality unfit for anything else. 
For ordinary store boxes and crates, all the softer and lighter woods 
are used. Pine of different species probably takes the lead, but cot¬ 
tonwood, basswood, chestnut, yellow poplar, and many other woods 
are in demand. 
For large tanks and silos, cypress is used and for casks and bar¬ 
rels for liquids and meats white oak is most prized. For all rough 
cooperage work elm is the wood most largely used. Elm is also 
the principal wood used in the manufacture of baskets, and fruit and 
vegetable packages. In addition to elm, beech, sycamore, basswood, 
and cottonwood are used for fruit and market baskets. Since long 
distance shipments are now so common, every effort is made to re¬ 
duce the weight of packages in order to lessen freight charges. Wood 
is cut as thin as possible, provided the required strength is secured. 
This has brought about the use of the veneer box and wood fibre 
package. 
