VU^M 
 
 /VA-O 
 
 pt^ 
 
 UTi/iz^T/'^^/o/^' 
 
 Gc^ i ^IW 
 
 ^/< 
 
 SVC A 
 
 e 
 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 i BULLETIN No. 884 
 
 ^"L^'^W*. 
 
 Contribution from the Forest Service 
 WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester 
 
 J^^^'^U 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 October 12, 1920 
 
 UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 
 
 By W. D. Brush, Scientific Assistant. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Importance 1 
 
 The wood 1 
 
 General appearance 1 
 
 Properties 3 
 
 Structure 4 
 
 Supply and demand 5 
 
 Range and size of tree 5 
 
 Commercial supply 5 
 
 Lumber production 8 
 
 Consumption of sycamore 8 
 
 Utilization by industries 9 
 
 Boxes and crates 10 
 
 Slack cooperage 13 
 
 Furniture and fixtures 14 
 
 Planing mill products 15 
 
 Butchers' blocks 15 
 
 Musical instruments 10 
 
 Utilization by industries — Continued. 
 
 Agricultural implements 16 
 
 Carpet sweepers 16 
 
 Trunks 16 
 
 Shade rollers 16 
 
 Handles 16 
 
 Sewing machines 17 
 
 Wooden ware and novelties 17 
 
 Other factory uses '. 17 
 
 Fuel 18 
 
 Lumber and timber values :: ^ ..... ^ 18 
 
 Lumber prices 18 
 
 Stumpage and log prices 19 
 
 Markets 21 
 
 Grading rules 22 
 
 Summary and conclusions 23 
 
 Appendix 24 
 
 IMPORTANCE. 
 
 Sycamore is one of the important commercial woods of the United 
 States, and is of special value for use in certain containers, such as 
 slack barrels and plug- tobacco boxes. It ranks low, however, in 
 amount consumed, for about 25 native woods, including 13 hard- 
 woods, are used in larger quantities. 
 
 This bulletin gives information on the supply of sycamore, on the 
 conditions attendant on its manufacture, and on how it may be used 
 most advantageously. 
 
 THE WOOD. 
 
 GENERAL APPEARANCE. 
 
 Sycamore, in general, is a uniformly colored, clean-looking wood, 
 and therefore presents a good appearance when manufactured. The 
 heartwood is brown tinged with red; the sapwood is lighter. Plain- 
 sawed sycamore has little figure, excepting the lighter-colored bands 
 which mark off the annual-growth layers from each other. It usually 
 
 185338°— 20— Bull. 884 1 
 
 (^-^A 
 
":?. 
 
 BULLETIIsr 884, U. S. DEPAETMEIS^T OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 8l 
 
 
 ■?§ 
 
 3 c5 
 
 8:3 6f 
 
 
 S^ 
 
 te^- •- ..<= a a a 
 <u ■; t> "^ o^-g oj 
 
 MS) J5 : 
 
 W-o 
 
 oo 
 
 s? 
 
 
 SCO 'T 
 
 do 
 
 ?J 
 
 Km 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 -9 — » 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 ■-J 
 
 
 S ••:; Sf c3 o '-' 
 
 
 
 ^•S S'^ II 
 
 O 3 S .-ti .« 
 
 
 
 
 ci2 C 
 
 ^ g S-^ II 
 
 
 55..g 
 
 %^^'^ 
 
 Wtg 
 
 .H3 
 t-< ® o 
 
 a p-a 
 g2S 
 
 £ o 2 
 
 Sag 
 (U o o 
 
 ocT*'2i 1929 
 
UTILIZATION or SYCAMORE. 6 
 
 has also a slightiy mottled appearance, due to the large medullary 
 rays. In quarter-sawed wood these rays are very conspicuous and 
 resemble the figure in quartered oak. The effect produced in quarter- 
 sawed sycamore is decidedly different, however, from that in quarter- 
 sawed oak, principally because the rays are darker than the rest of 
 the wood, while in oak, as in most other w^oods, they are lighter. 
 Sycamore takes several different finishes in a very attractive mamier. 
 
 PROPERTIES. 
 
 Sycamore wood is moderately hard, moderately heavy, moderately 
 stiff, moderately strong, has moderately good shock-resisting ability, 
 and is difficult to split. It shrinks moderately and is inclined to 
 warp, but not excessively, in seasoning. Table 1 gives the results of 
 a large number of tests on sycamore wood from two different locali- 
 ties. Material for these tests was taken from five trees in each 
 locality. 
 
 From Table 2 it appears that on the average sycamore shrinks a 
 little more than white oak in the radial direction, a trifle less in volume, 
 and considerably less in the tangential direction. The ratio of 
 radial to tangential shrinkage is much less in sycamore (1 to 1.49) 
 than in white oak (1 to 1.84). 
 
 Table 2. — Average properties of sycamore wood as compared with white oak. 
 
 [Oak=100.] 
 
 Per cent. 
 
 Specific gra\'ity 76. 7 
 
 Shrinkage : 
 
 Volume 99. 3 
 
 Radial 104. 1 
 
 Tangential ^ 84. 4 
 
 Strength in bending 75. 2 
 
 Strength in compression parallel to grain 82. 7 
 
 Strength in compression perpendicular to grain 61. 9 
 
 Stiffness 80. 9 
 
 Hardness 58. 2 
 
 Shock-resisting ability 56. 4 
 
 Shearing strength parallel to grain 76. 6 
 
 The specific gravitj^ of dry sycamore is only about tliree-fourths 
 that of white oak. Although in respect to the different mechanical 
 properties sycamore ranks lower than white oak, compared on the 
 basis of dry weight, or specific gravity when dry, sycamore excels the 
 oak m strength in compression parallel to the gram, and in stiffness; 
 is about equal to it in shearing strength parallel to grain and strength 
 m bending; and is below it in strength in compression perpendicular 
 to gram, hardness, and shock-resisting ability. 
 
 Sycamore wood is not durable, the average life of the mitreated 
 lumber in the United States in exposed situations being placed at 
 from three to five years. The life of any individual stick, however, 
 
4 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGPJCULTUEE. 
 
 may vary from this figure, depending on the quality of the wood and 
 the conditions in which it is placed. 
 
 Sycamore does not impart odor or taste to substances in contact 
 with it, nor does it stain them. This quahty, together with its 
 moderate degree of strength and the difficulty in splittmg the wood, 
 makes it particularly suitable for certain kinds of containers. 
 
 Table 3. — Average computed weight {in pounds) of 
 
 sycamore in different forms. 
 
 
 l-inch 
 lum- 
 ber, 
 per 
 1.000 
 feet, 
 b. m. 
 
 Cord, 
 
 90 
 
 cubic 
 
 feet 
 
 (solid 
 
 wood). 
 
 Doyle log rule. 
 
 Scribner log rule. 
 
 
 Diameter of logs — inches. 
 
 Diameter of logs— inches. 
 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 24 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 24 
 
 
 1,000 feet, log scale. ' 1,000 feet log scale. 
 
 Sycamore, green . . 
 
 4,300 4 700 
 
 55,600 
 38,000 
 
 12,000 
 8,200 
 
 8,400 
 5,700 
 
 7 100 1^ 400 
 
 9 700 7 -nn 
 
 7 000 
 
 Sycamore- air-dry 
 
 3,000 
 
 3,200 
 
 4 '800 
 
 8,400 
 
 6,600 
 
 5,300 
 
 4,800 
 
 Table 3 gives the average computed weight of 1,000 board feet 
 of 1-inch lumber, of a cord of wood, and of logs per 1,000 board 
 feet as scaled by the Doyle and Scribner log rules. The cord used 
 in this table is composed of 90 cubic feet of solid wood. The official 
 standard weight of the National Hardwood Lumber Association for 
 rough sycamore lumber 1 inch thick is 3,000 pounds per 1,000 board 
 feet, which corresponds with the computed weight of 1-inch air-dry 
 lumber as shown in the table. The standard weight of the Associa- 
 tion for green sycamore lumber 1 inch is 4,750 poimds per 1,000 
 board feet. 
 
 STRUCTURE. 
 
 Sycamore is a "diffuse porous" wood; that is, the pores or vessels 
 of the wood are all nearly the same size and quite evenly distributed 
 
 lar 
 
 i Beech 1 Sycamore ! Birch i 
 
 Fig. 1.— Wood of beech, sycamore, and birch, a, broad ray of sycamore; c, d, narrow ray of beech and 
 
 birch; ar, annual ring. 
 
 throughout each annual layer or ring of growth, and the annual 
 rings are marked off from each other by light-colored lines. The 
 medullary rays are numerous and conspicuous and practicall}^ all 
 
UTILIZATIOlSr OF SYCAMORE. 5 
 
 broad. Figure 1 shows the differences in structure in beecli, syca- 
 more, and birch, which are all diffuse porous woods. In beech, as 
 in sycamore, there are broad rays; but in beech there are many 
 narrow rays and the broad rays are unevenly spaced, whereas in 
 sycamore they are evenly spaced. In birch the rays are all narrow. 
 Plate I is a photograph of a cross section of sycamore wood. 
 
 SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 
 
 RANGE AND SIZE OF TREE. 
 
 Practically all of our native sycamore wood comes from a single 
 species, Platanus occidentalis, which grows throughout nearly all of 
 the eastern half of the United States (fig. 2). Other names applied 
 to the tree are buttonwood and buttonball. Two other species 
 occur in the western part of the United States, but these are unim- 
 portant commercially, yielding only a small amount of timber for 
 local purposes. The common eastern sycamore usually grows to a 
 height of from 75 to 110 feet and a diameter of from 2 to 5 feet. 
 There are records of sycamores measuring up to 14 feet in diameter 
 and 140 feet in height, and a few such trees are still found. It is, 
 therefore, the largest hardwood of the United States in size of trunk, 
 but not in height. 
 
 Sycamore trees do not, as a rule, yield a large amount of the 
 highest quality timber because of the shortness of the clear length 
 of stems. Large logs are frequently shaky and often hollow, and 
 on. this account there is a high percentage of waste in the manu- 
 facture of lumber and veneer. Logs over 20 inches in diameter are 
 likely to be very defective. Smaller second-growth logs are usually 
 c[uite sound. The southern sycamore is said to be often badly 
 affected ^\dth worm holes, which makes it unsuitable for most uses. 
 (See PL II.) 
 
 COMMERCIAL SUPPLY. 
 
 The principal supply of sycamore is from that part of the central 
 hardwood region which includes West Virginia and Missouri, the 
 States lying between them, and Arkansas and Tennessee. The 
 greatest supply of sycamore is located along river bottoms in the 
 Ohio and Mississippi Valleys and along the large streams tributary 
 to these rivers. 
 
 The principal center of the sycamore industry seems to be at 
 present located near the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. 
 Much sycamore is available in this region along these streams and 
 their large tributaries, and, therefore, many factories using large 
 amounts of sycamore are located near by. The factories are usually 
 located on the rivers and get their sycamore logs in rafts. The 
 logs are placed in the water at different points along the streams, 
 and are collected by a man with a power boat, who assembles them 
 into rafts and tows them to the factory. Considerable quantities 
 
6 
 
 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 
 
 of sycamore are secured in this way along the lower Tennessee and 
 Cumberland Rivers. Factories located on the lower Ohio River 
 can usually get a sufficient supply for their needs. In other regions, 
 however, factories seeking large amounts of sycamore are generally 
 unable to get a sufficient quantity and have been greatly incon- 
 venienced by lack of a steady supply. In most cases such factories 
 have been obliged to a considerable degree to substitute other woods 
 for svcamore. 
 
 Pig. 2. — Distribution of the sycamore tree (Platanus occidentalis). 
 
 Sycamore timber is so widely scattered and in compact bodies so 
 small that an accurate estimate of the stand is impossible. Sycamore 
 is a bottom-land tree, and its favorite habitat is along river banks 
 and on islands which rise above the surface of the water at low 
 stages. The tree, is thus doubly useful in protecting river banks 
 from washing and in providing useful timber. Its choice of location 
 is a strong factor in keeping up the supply, since it grows extensively 
 on land which is unsuitable for cultivation. There is, of course, 
 less sycamore in the country than there was before the fertile valleys 
 were cleared. A future limited supply is assured, however, from 
 areas that are not useful for agricultural purposes. 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 
 
 ■^ a. 
 
 
 55^ 
 
 < 
 
 
 ■-H ^ ^^<Mi-H 
 
 
 jTTCii-Oroi— "■^O'^c 
 
 ioioi:^i-^a!C;otoO(M"*w:) 
 
 »o<:cy::^0'^^oc■l05^-aicot^-rroocco^0':c;c^ .-i 
 
 - oi CC' »o •* lO :<;■ t 
 
 ■* CC (M ""T" --H .— ( C'l ,— ( i-H 
 
 GCCO-^ ^ ^r-^ t-( rM 
 
 
 !-- CO CC r-H W r-l 1-1 
 
 lo o o -^ c-1 oi cc X »c I-* "^ 05 .-< LT Ti- o >o lo 1— < CO CO r- c^i o 
 
 cor^ascoCi-rrt^ciOtcoi-^OaOMccc-j 
 
 '^ -J: rH C-l (M »-t C-l /M i-H fM r-l CM (M 
 
 *--: lo CO ■-::^ r-ic-i c^ »-* c-i ci 
 
 ; iM ^ .-H cj i-H 
 
 COOii^OOCOOSiOC^COCOt^iOCiJoOr— ■<^iM'— llCOiOiCiO 
 
 co.-HOO'^i-ioc^tOTf^r^i-HiococDi^O'^ ct><:m i-i 
 
 COiO»OGOOCO Oi— f^.— ICO 04 0-Ji-H i-Hi— t 
 
 i-Tco^cocoofi-r (>r 
 
 CCO«OCO'*'C5r^I>OC01--OCi-^05LOL'ti05iOlr-iO.-ir-iC5 
 COiOiOC^JO^LOCOX-^iO^C^lCH^iOt^OCM^-^'Qi lO 
 
 ic oC' Oi ct •— ' Oi CI GC -— < c; t^ r-( -^ r- ic .— I ic CO i— ' 
 
 t>-l>C0&CCCC0'^O 1— t 
 
 r^ OS lO !>• CO CO <M lO OC CI _ , . 
 
 :OCM'*a>CO»OC:iOOCO:C(MiO 
 , _ __ ., , , t^ G<: (M f- r-1 OI (M 7-1 CM 0-1 tH 
 
 CO II Oe0OC00iC0i0i-i»0(MCi(MTt-b-.ciC0C00Si-i0ilC0C'^ 
 !C t^COiMdCOi— itX'i— (OO'-H-rr'XJLCOCOOlCOOt^Tf .— iTp 
 
 CO e© -^rd 
 
 ot^r-tcscn-^t^iOi— I 
 
 lO 00 iO t^ -^ C^l 
 
 sOCOMCDcOCOOSO'^COOO'^OiOiCO'M.-MOOO 
 OOt-iOl'rft^r^cOasiiOOOCCOrHrficOCDC^iO'— <i— I 
 
 •vOioioc^ocot-- coos OS-^t~*iOtCW 
 
 O-^-— '0:00i-^co 
 0'<tiOH^'-('^COi-l 
 
 iC00O'^»CC0CCC005^O(M 
 f-HCO(MCC>i— tCScoiO C^ 
 
 r-^ ^* rvi nrt ^ ir^ nr r-^ 
 
 OOsOit^-HMOiO(NOO 
 
 r^ c) OS o OS CI c^i CM CO o o 
 
 »o-— 'osiocicc o coco 
 
 irT^cot-^co'to' t^ 
 
 C^]OSC^t>>b-iO»00 
 t-HOlt^Ot^OOSOO 
 CDCOiOI>-C10'-i^ 
 
 C^l CO ^ ^ r-4 
 
 lOCOt^'^-tfClOO 
 'OCOCOOCOi-Hi-hX 
 tT" !>• "^ t^ 1-H ■^ X) 
 
 00 CO *c ■<:r "^ .-1 
 
 "o'o ' 
 
 ■- ■- : 
 
 oi a; : 
 
 2 ^ s 
 
 ■a 3 s 
 
 03 C - !* 03 
 
 
 1 3 
 
 
 ^ a ^ 
 02; .3 
 
 T3 a 
 a =9 
 
 03 bo 
 
 
 cfl 
 
 o3 
 
 
 ti 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (U 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 03 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 ti 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 TJ<^ 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 .i<) 
 
 
 
 
 42 
 
 3 
 
 % 
 
 •"J 
 
 o 
 
 S 
 
 
 ^ 
 
BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 LUMBER PRODUCTION. 
 
 Table 4 gives the reported production of sycamore lumber for 
 different years by States. According to these figures, there has been 
 a decided decrease in the cut in recent years. The decrease is not 
 so great as appears from the figures, however, since the census 
 reports subsequent to 1909 are not so complete as for that year, and 
 a large number of small mills by which much of the supply of syca- 
 more lumber is produced are not included in the later reports. 
 
 There is considerable fluctuation in the amounts of sycamore 
 lumber produced by the same State in successive years. This is 
 due, in part, to the transportation of logs by streams which form 
 boundaries of different States in the sycamore region, the logs going 
 sometimes to a mill in one State and sometimes to a mill in another 
 State. The variation is also probably due to an irregularity in the 
 supply, since the timber, being confined so largely to river bottoms, 
 is logged mainly as timber operations chance to be carried on in such 
 situations. 
 
 CONSUMPTION OF SYCAMORE. 
 
 Little sycamore is used in the rough for such purposes as building 
 construction, ties', etc. It goes principally, therefore, to factories 
 for the manufacture of various products. Considerable amounts are 
 doubtless cut into firewood, but statistics are not available to show 
 the extent of this use. Sycamore is widely distributed, and much of 
 it is applied to general farm uses, although many other woods are 
 more valuable for such purposes. 
 
 Table 5. — Number of mills reporting lumber cut of sycamore in the different States, 
 arranged in order of lumber cut in 1918. 
 
 state. 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 1913 
 
 1914 
 
 1915 
 
 1916 
 
 1917 
 
 1918 
 
 Total. 
 
 1,505 
 
 2,079 
 
 2,964 
 
 12.325 
 
 1,904 
 
 2,211 
 
 659 
 
 603 
 
 876 
 
 931 
 
 904 
 
 775 
 
 
 Arkansas 
 
 25 
 379 
 113 
 233 
 20(5 
 217 
 a 
 
 24S 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 
 51 
 476 
 125 
 286 
 270 
 230 
 
 17 
 301 
 
 "'47' 
 
 42 
 
 6 
 
 29 
 
 11 
 
 47 
 
 65 
 
 49 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 6 
 
 83 
 
 633 
 
 201 
 
 501 
 
 357 
 
 279 
 
 29 
 
 338 
 
 6 
 
 80 
 
 86 
 
 10 
 
 36 
 
 22 
 
 72 
 
 95 
 
 40 
 
 '\ 
 
 a 
 3 
 
 58 
 
 440 
 
 149 
 
 - 410 
 
 277 
 
 199 
 
 30 
 
 327 
 
 4 
 
 67 
 
 75 
 
 19 
 
 29 
 
 14 
 
 68 
 
 70 
 
 33 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 60 
 
 370 
 
 111 
 
 373 
 
 234 
 
 167 
 
 11 
 
 254 
 
 3 
 
 50 
 
 51 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 41 
 
 54 
 
 32 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 62 
 
 383 
 
 142 
 
 415 
 
 274 
 
 209 
 
 15 
 
 303 
 
 6 
 
 60 
 
 59 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 
 18 
 
 50 
 
 68 
 
 42 
 
 18 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 31 
 
 129 
 
 37 
 
 140 
 
 70 
 
 64 
 
 4 
 
 84 
 
 . 3 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 31 
 
 146 
 41 
 66 
 76 
 65 
 
 8 
 48 
 
 6 
 33 
 12 
 
 3 
 19 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 "" "3" 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 
 a 
 
 42 
 
 199 
 
 80 
 
 104 
 
 105 
 
 47 
 
 10 
 
 94 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 6 
 
 29 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 55 
 
 204 
 74 
 95 
 
 111 
 48 
 14 
 
 107 
 10 
 18 
 27 
 7 
 24 
 16 
 13 
 32 
 27 
 21 
 
 a 
 5 
 
 
 8 
 
 a 
 
 59 
 
 198 
 93 
 87 
 
 109 
 43 
 32 
 88 
 14 
 14 
 37 
 10 
 19 
 12 
 10 
 23 
 17 
 14 
 
 
 7 
 
 a 
 9 
 
 a 
 
 54 
 
 Indiana 
 
 157 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 74 
 
 Missouri 
 
 71 
 
 Ohio 
 
 100 
 
 Illinois 
 
 38 
 
 Mississippi 
 
 27 
 
 Kentucky 
 
 93 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 12 
 
 Oklahoma 
 
 14 
 
 Virginia 
 
 25 
 
 Georgia 
 
 6 
 
 Maryland 
 
 a 
 
 18 
 
 Alabama 
 
 9 
 
 Michigan... 
 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 
 13 
 
 West Virginia 
 
 21 
 
 Penns ylyania 
 
 11 
 
 North Carolina 
 
 11 
 
 Texas 
 
 
 South Carolina 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 3 
 
 New York 
 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 Florida 
 
 
 
 Delaware 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 New Hampsliire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vermont 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 22 
 a 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Iowa '. 
 
 
 7 
 a 
 6 
 
 51 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 21 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 23 
 3 
 
 a 
 3 
 6 
 
 a 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 3 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 TJ'aTiSfi.s 
 
 
 3 
 
 All other States 3 
 
 84 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1 Not including New York. 
 
 2 Number of mills cutting this species not reported. 
 
 3 Including those marked "a." 
 
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Plate I. 
 
 Photomicrograph of a Transverse Section of Sycamore Wood. 
 
 a. r., annual ring or yearly growth layer; T'', vessels or pores of early or spring wood: T'2, vessels 
 of late or siiininerwood; m. r., medullary or pith rays which extend in the radial direction and 
 give the figure in tlie quartered wood. 
 
Bui. 884, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Plate II. 
 
 Fig. I.— Large Sycamore Logs in a Mill Yard in the Lower Ohio Valley. 
 
 Note the 2-foot rule. The three logs at the top are very sound for their size and are especially 
 ^•aluable for rotary veneer for tobacco boxes or baslcets. The two lower logs show bad checks 
 and ring shakes, and should be cut into lumber for furniture, etc. 
 
 V 
 
 W^^ tfr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 ss 
 
 1 
 
 '■■■■ -*«i 
 
 ^^^4iHl 
 
 
 
 
 
 krfw 'taa^xm 
 
 • ^_ jte« 
 
 ^js^^^^SSB! 
 
 
 iHllljjl^^ 
 
 ^H 
 
 ■ 
 
 n 
 
 Hi 
 
 »^ 
 
 
 ^^^^vB 
 
 
 H 
 
 mH ■"• y ^^MM 
 
 1 
 
 
 i^ J.^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Fig. 2.— Sycamore Logs of Different Sizes. 
 
 Two-foot rule at end of large log. Small sound logs are valuable for slack staves. Large 1 
 are mostly defective, having rotten centers, deep checks, and ring shakes. 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 
 
 UTILIZATION BY INDUSTRIES. 
 
 Statistics were collected by the Forest Service during the years 
 1909 to 1913 on amounts of different woods consumed by factories. 
 All industries using considerable amounts of sycamore were * covered, 
 with the exception of the slack cooperage industiy. Statistics on 
 the use of sycamore in this indusury, prepared by the Bureau of the 
 Census, are available for the year 1909. These data show a factory 
 consumption of sycamore of over 33,000,000 board feet. 
 
 Sycamore is used in the largest quantities by those States which 
 are in the immediate region of the greatest supply — namely, Ken- 
 tucky, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee. On 
 account of the great tobacco industries located in Virginia and 
 North Carolina, these S,tates also use large amounts. Accurate 
 figures on the amount used by each State can not be obtained, for 
 the reason that some manufacturing firms have factories in different 
 States. Certain quantities of sycamore lumber and plywood stock 
 are shipped from one factory to another, and the amount used by 
 each factory is not reported separately. It is estimated that about 
 90 per cent of all the sycamore used by factories is consumed in the 
 eight States mentioned. 
 
 Table 6. — Use of sycamore in factories in the United States, by industries. Compiled 
 from reports for years betiveen 1909 and 1913, inclusive. 
 
 Industry. 
 
 Quantity 
 
 used 
 annually. 
 
 Per cent. 
 
 Boxes and crates 
 
 Slack cooperage 
 
 Furniture and fixtures 
 
 Planing-mill products: Sash, doors, blinds, and general mUlwork . 
 
 Butchers ' blocks 
 
 Musical Instruments 
 
 Agricultural implements 
 
 Carpet sweepers 
 
 Trimks 
 
 Shade and map rollers 
 
 Handles 
 
 Sewing machines 
 
 Woodenware and novelties. . . 
 
 Toys 
 
 Brushes 
 
 Vehicles and vehicle parts 
 
 Ship and boat building , 
 
 Saddles and harness , 
 
 Sporting and athletic goods. . . 
 Frames and molding, picture. 
 Laundry appliances! 
 
 Feet b. 
 
 17, 131 
 
 7,266 
 
 3,499 
 
 1,723 
 
 1,600 
 
 301 
 
 290 
 
 270 
 
 255 
 
 202 
 
 156 
 
 150 
 
 107 
 
 91 
 
 71 
 
 62 
 
 - 38: 
 
 34 
 30 
 30 
 
 2 
 
 693 
 
 ,000 
 
 226 
 
 550 
 
 ;ooo 
 
 600 
 000 
 
 ;ooo 
 
 000 
 ,000 
 ,000 
 000 
 ;500 
 ,343 
 ,300 
 ,600 
 000 
 ,500 
 500 
 000 
 000 
 
 51.42 
 21.81 
 10.51 
 5.17 
 4.80 
 .91 
 .87 
 .81 
 .77 
 .61 
 .47 
 .45 
 .32 
 .27 
 .22 
 .19 
 .11 
 .10 
 .09 
 .09 
 .01 
 
 Total 33, 318, 812 
 
 100.00 
 
 Table 6 gives the quantities of sycamore used annually and the 
 proportions, as reported by different wood-using industries. These 
 figures are in terms of amounts consiuned, except those for slack 
 cooperage, which give the amounts produced. Since these data were 
 compiled from reports for years between 1909 and 1913, inclusive, 
 they do not represent accurately the present amounts used. They 
 185338°— 20— Bull. 884 2 
 
10 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 do, however, show the relative unportance of the different industries 
 in sycamore utilization. 
 
 The largest amount of sycamore goes into the box and crate 
 industry, and slack cooperage uses the next 'largest quantity. About 
 three-fourths of the entire amount goes into these two mdustries. 
 The use of sycamore for furniture and fixtures is an important one, 
 the annual consumption being more than 10 per cent of the total. 
 Two classes of uses (1) planing-mill products, sash, doors, blinds, 
 and general millwork, and (2) butchers' blocks — each consumed 
 about 5 per cent of the total. These five industries used about 94 
 per cent of the entire amomit reported by factories. 
 
 From 100,000 to 300,000 board feet were consumed annually by 
 manufacturers of each of the following: Musical instruments, agricul- 
 tural implements, brooms and carpet sweepers, trunks and valises, 
 shade and map rollers, handles, sewing machines, woodenware. The 
 other eight industries given in Table 6 — namely, toys, brushes, vehi- 
 cles, and vehicle parts, ship and boat building, saddles and harness, 
 sporting and athletic goods, picture frames and molding, and laun- 
 dry appliances — used small amomits totalmg only about 1 per cent 
 of that reported for all industries. 
 
 The prices paid for sycamore by these different industries ranged 
 from $12 per 1,000 board feet for butchers' blocks to $32 per 1,000 
 for carpet sweepers. In the case of the former, material was pur- 
 chased in the log, and low-grade material could be used. For the 
 latter, the quartered wood was largely used, and this brought a 
 comparatively high price. 
 
 The average price paid for sycamore by manufacturers was $18 
 per 1,000 board feet. All prices are given f. o. b. factory. Reports 
 on cost of raw material were not secured from slack cooperage plants, 
 and the average cost of sycamore for such uses is, therefore, not 
 available. 
 
 A list of products made of sycamore, arranged by industries, is 
 shown in the appendix, 
 
 BOXES AND CRATES. 
 
 Sycamore is favored for boxes to hold certain products which are 
 easily contaminated by contact with most woods. It has long been 
 the favorite wood for boxes for plug tobacco, which is easily stained 
 and acquires an unpleasant taste and odor from many woods. It is 
 considered the most suitable wood for this purpose, not only because 
 of its noncontaminating qualities but also because of its moderate 
 degree of strength and its attractive appearance. More sycamore is 
 used for boxes for plug tobacco than for any other product. Tobacco 
 boxes were formerly made of solid wood and were nailed together, 
 and sycamore served well because it did not split easily. Now, how- 
 ever, they are commonly made of plywood, glued together and lock- 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 11 
 
 cornered. Sycamore is well adapted for this also because it cuts 
 well, makes a strong veneer, and glues well. 
 
 Red gum has largely displaced sycamore for tobacco boxes in 
 recent years, chiefly on accoimt of the scarcity of sycamore. Red 
 gum not only does not contaminate the tobacco, but has the added 
 advantage of cutting into plywood more easily, and therefore faster 
 than the sycamore. The gum splits more readily, but this difficulty 
 is obviated by lock-cornering in place of nailing. Red gum, how- 
 ever, does not make so attractive a box, and tobacco manufacturers 
 have had considerable trouble in getting the trade to accept it 
 because there was a suspicion that the grade of tobacco contained 
 in the gum box was inferior. Sycamore is often used for the more 
 conspicuous outer plywood pieces, but gum is being mixed with it 
 more and more for such pieces, since the tobacco-box makers often 
 can not get a sufficient supply of sycamore even for the outside ply. 
 
 Both red gum and sycamore are cut into veneer by the rotary proc- 
 ess, the thickness depending on the box to be made from it. Tobacco, 
 boxes are usually made from thick ply. The veneer is cut into large 
 sheets which are kiln-dried. There is less waste if the sheets are not 
 put under pressure in the drying process, and for this reason they are 
 dried on edge. After drying they are glued and held together 
 under pressure until the glue is dry. On account of the greater 
 warping of red gum there is greater resultant waste because of splits. 
 This is more than compensated for, however, by the greater pro- 
 portion of clear material obtained from large gum logs than from 
 large sycamore logs, which are almost invariably defective. AU 
 sheets which have holes or checks running thi'ough them are thrown 
 out. Those mth small defects are glued together with clear pieces. 
 Gum plywood stock is usually separated into light and dark grades, 
 the lighter-colored wood giving the best appearance. 
 
 When thin ply is glued together, the grain in one sheet runs at 
 right angles to that in the adjacent sheet. In thick ply, however, 
 as one-quarter inch, the grain of the different sheets runs in the same 
 direction. If glued with the grain running at right angles, such 
 thick sheets are apt to pull apart. The sheets, as they are cut 
 from the log, are glued together, face to face or back to back, in 
 relation to the center of the log, so that the warping in one wiU be 
 offset by that in the other, as it tends to take place in the same direc- 
 tion in the different sheets. 
 
 The caddy is one of the most common forms of tobacco box. This 
 is square at the ends and is usually made of two-ply material about 
 one-quarter inch thick and lock-cornered. Ordinarily, the only 
 nails used are those in the strips which hold in the top and bottom 
 heads. This makes a very strong box. 
 
12 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Tobacco boxes are also made of a single thickness of lialf-incb 
 material strongly reinforced. They are made with inset bottopis and 
 are usually nailed together hj machines. Such boxes are often 
 used for fine-cut tobacco, Avhich is packed in them by machines. 
 
 Fruit and vegetable baskets and packages and egg cases are often 
 made of sycamore. These are composed of thin veneer. Sycamore 
 is favored because it veneere well, is clean-looking and uniformly 
 colored, has considerable strength in this form, and is not so brash 
 when dry as some woods, such as red gum, which are used in place of 
 it. Beech and maple, however, are usually considered as satisfactory 
 as sycamore. The veneered splints of the ordinary market basket 
 and the bottom boards in bushels and half bushels are often made 
 from sycamore in place of elm. 
 
 Basket makers consider sycamore the best wood available for the 
 piece forming the sides of octagon beny boxes. This type of box 
 is shown in Plate III. The piece forming the sides must be bent 
 in eight places, and, in order that it may bend successfully, a V-shaped 
 scoring is made across the piece for one-half its thickness. The 
 scoring, therefore, is not merely a rough scratch, as in the ordinary 
 berry box. This type of berry box is used in the western United 
 States mainly for fancy berries, and it displays the fruit well. It is 
 made in pints and half pints, the latter mainly for red raspberries. 
 The sides and bottoms must be first dried in order that they may be 
 shipped flat. They are later bent in the dry state when the boxes 
 are assembled. Sycamore, when dry, will stand such treatment 
 without breaking more successfully than almost any other wood. 
 Its good appearance is also a strong point in its favor. Yellow poplar 
 is a good wood for this purpose, but it is much liigher priced. The 
 average price paid for sycamore for baskets and fruit packages in 
 Illinois was $11.56 per 1,000 board feet, as compared Avith $18.22 
 for yellow poplar. 
 
 There are at least two serious objections to the use of sycamore 
 for sliipping boxes. An extremely light-colored wood, on wliich 
 stenciling and WTitmg show well, is usuaUy preferred, since manu- 
 facturers often advertise their products on the boxes in wliich they 
 are shipped. Its relatively greater weight, in comparison ^^dtll many 
 other suitable woods, is another objection, as it increases shipping 
 costs. The use of sycamore for boxes is, therefore, usually confined 
 to certain smaller ones, such as have been described. 
 
 The foUomng States use the largest amounts of sycamore in the 
 manufacture of boxes and crates of all kinds: Kentucky, Missouri, 
 North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas, and Illinois. Reports show a 
 use of over a million feet annually in each of these States. Indiana 
 also uses large, but less amounts in this industry. All of these 
 States, with the exception of North Carolina and Virginia, have 
 
Bui. 884, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Plate III. 
 
 tm 
 
 Berry Box, Octagon Form. 
 
 Piece forming the sides is of sycamore. It bends at scorings without breaking. At top, bottom 
 
 piece of red gum. 
 
Bui. 884, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Plate IV. 
 
 Slats of Sycamore for Backs of Low-Priced Chairs. 
 
 Sycamore holds its shape, finishes easily, and has a good appearance. 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMOEE. 13 
 
 largo 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 m the futm-e 
 in competition with red gum, on account of the hirge 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 
 repf>rted for sycamore for boxes and crates, as compared mth 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 jomt. 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 shiinkage 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 loiife, 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: IVIissouii, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illi- 
 
14 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 nois, Indiana, and Tennessee. The principal supply of sycamore also 
 comes from, these six States. Sycamore slack cooperage stock is 
 evidently, therefore, manufactured near the source of supply. 
 
 FURMTURE AND FIXTURES. 
 
 The greater part of the sycamore employed in furniture and fixtures 
 is in the form of plain-sawed lumber. Much of it is manufactured 
 into common furniture, such as is used for kitchens, pantries, porches,^ 
 and verandas. Slats for the backs of cheap chairs are made of syca- 
 more (Plate IV). Large quantities of these chairs are made in the 
 lower Ohio Valley. Elm and red gum are used for this purpose along 
 with sycamore, because they all hold their shape well after they are 
 steamed and bent. Light and dark pieces are kept separate and not 
 used together in the same chair, since this detracts from its appear- 
 ance. Factories making cheap chairs generally use much low-grade 
 material. 
 
 Since it does not impart taste, odor, or stain, sycamore is used for 
 shelving, sides, and bottoms of kitchen cabinets, and for refrigerators. 
 Of the total amount reported for this industry, 340,000 feet were 
 used in the manufacture of kitchen furniture, including kitchen 
 tables. There is some objection to its use for the tops of such tables, 
 on account of its liability to warp. 
 
 Sycamore constitutes a not inconsiderable portion of the interior 
 and hidden parts of more expensive furniture. It is very useful for 
 drawer sides, backs and bottoms, shelves and pigeonholes, partitions 
 and compartments, guides, and linings. It is also used as core mate- 
 rial on which veneer is glued. It finds place in such situations, 
 because it is not a high-priced wood and not because of any superiority 
 over many other woods used \yith. it or replaced by it. 
 
 Quarter-sawed sycamore for outside pieces is higher-class material 
 and is used for the same purpose as more expensive woods. Quarter 
 sawing produces a different effect in sycamore from that in most of 
 the oaks because of its dark-colored medullary rays. The so-called 
 "silver grain," which in oak is lighter than the rest of the wood, in 
 sycamore is darker, producing a peculiar effect which is often admired. 
 The quarter-sawed stock is used in solid pieces and in the form of 
 veneer, and is frequently made into panels. Sycamore is also cut 
 into plain veneer for panelwork. 
 
 Sj^camore in one form or another is used in practically all classes 
 of furniture. A large demand comes from makers of bm-eaus, chif- 
 foniers, bedsteads, folding beds, tables, china closets, music cabinets, 
 bookcases, and filing cabinets. Sycamore is also used for office fix- 
 tures and furniture, for which the quarter-sawed wood is especially 
 appropriate. 
 
 An average price of about $23 per 1,000 board feet at the factory 
 was reported for raw material for this class of uses. This is a higher 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 15 
 
 price than was reported for red gum for the same uses, but consider- 
 ably less than for birch and maple. 
 
 PLANING-MILL PRODUCTS, SASH, DOORS, BLINDS, AND GENERAL MILLWORK. 
 
 The striking figure shown by sycamore when quarter -sawed makes 
 a demand for it for planing-mill products, sash, doors, blinds, and 
 general millwork. Its principal use in this industry is for the inte- 
 rior finish of houses and stores, includmg flooring. It is also used in 
 considerable amounts for cabinetwork. One of the most showy uses 
 of quarter-sawed sycamore is for mantels where panels, columns, 
 brackets, shelves, and tops are combined. Stair rails, newel posts, 
 spindles, capitals, and grillwork call for some of the best grades of 
 this wood. There is also a demand for it for sash and blinds. 
 
 Sycamore is desirable for doors, casing, and base. It is much in 
 favor at the present time for door panels m the form of plain veneer. 
 Sycamore panels of built-up veneer are preferable to those of solid 
 wood because of the tendency of the solid wood to warp and twist. 
 Some figure can be obtained in the plain wood, but in order to get 
 the striking figure ejffects peculiar to the wood it must be quartered. 
 The sycamore door panel is said to go well with a pine frame, a birch 
 frame, or a frame veneered with sycamore. 
 
 Sycamore is used in largest amounts for these purposes in Illinois, 
 Ohio, and Tennessee. Prices reported for sycamore lumber used for 
 this class of products averaged approximately the same as those for 
 furniture and fixtures — about $23 per 1,000 feet f. o. b. the factory. 
 
 BUTCHERS' BLOCKS. 
 
 One of the important uses of sycamore for many years has been 
 for the butcher's block, which usually consists of a bolt of the de- 
 sired size sawed from the trunk of a tree. It is sometimes mounted 
 on stout legs. Sycamore is selected for this article because it does 
 not split or check readily in seasoning. Some checking, however, 
 takes place and the block, therefore, becomes insanitary. Built-up 
 maple blocks composed of thoroughly seasoned pieces held together 
 by glue and bolts have largely displaced the sycamore block. One of 
 the common methods used in making the sycamore block is to bore 
 out a large hole in the center and drive in a large round plug. This 
 has the effect of closing up checks and shakes in the wood. Large 
 logs with ring shakes are utilized by this method. It is doubtful, 
 however, whether such defective material makes a very satisfactory 
 meat block. 
 
 Practically all of the 1,600,000 board feet of sycamore reported for 
 butchers' blocks is credited to Illinois. The present annual use is 
 doubtless much less on account of the substitution of the maple 
 block. About 2,000,000 feet of maple was reported as consumed 
 annually on the United States for the same purpose. The cost of 
 
16 BULLETIN 884, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 material for sycamore blocks is low, since they are made directly 
 from the log. The average price reported was approximately $12 
 per 1,000 board feet at the factory. This is the lowest cost of syca- 
 m.ore reported for any industry. 
 
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
 
 Over 300,000 feet of sycamore was reported as used annually for 
 musical instruments. It is largely utilized for the interior frame 
 parts and braces of pianos and organs because of its fair degree of 
 strength and its moderate cost. Quarter-sawed wood is occasionally 
 used for the outside cases. The average price reported for these 
 purposes was $15 per 1,000 board feet. This is about $3 per 1,000 
 below the average price reported and mdicates that not much of the 
 higher grades of lumber was used. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 
 
 Sycamore is used for parts of agricultural implements mainly on 
 account of its availability and not because it has any particular 
 qualifications for such purposes. Its use is principally for minor 
 parts of such implements as thi'ashing machines, including hoppers, 
 compartments, boxes, and chutes. For these products 290,000 board 
 feet were reported as used annually. 
 
 CARPET SWEEPERS. 
 
 The greater part of the sycamore reported for carpet sweepers 
 went into the outside pieces of the cases because of the peculiar and 
 attractive figiu-e of sycamore when quarter-sawed. Aii unusually 
 high average price, $32, was reported for sycamore used fot these 
 articles, showing that for the most part a high-quality of wood was 
 demanded. 
 
 TRUNKS. 
 
 Sycamore is used in trunks chiefly for the slats. Elm makes the 
 best trunk slat on account of its excellent shock-resisting ability. 
 vSycamore possesses this quality to a less degree but is a fairly satis- 
 factory substitute. 
 
 SHADE ROLLERS. 
 
 Curtain poles and Venetian blinds are often m.ade of sycamore 
 wood. Its good finishing qualities make it popular for such prod- 
 ucts. For the 202,000 board feet reported, an average price of $15.40 
 was paid. 
 
 HANDLES. 
 
 Sycamore is sometimes made into long handles of light agricultural 
 tools, such as hoes and rakes. For such purposes it is, however, in- 
 ferior to other woods more commonly used for these products, such 
 as ash and hickory. Saw handles are also occasionally made of 
 sycamore. A low average price, $14, was paid for sycamore used 
 for these products. 
 
UTILIZATION or SYCAMORE. 
 
 17 
 
 SEWING MACHINES. 
 
 Sewing-machine cabinets are often made of sycamore. It is used 
 chiefly in the form of quartered wood for the outside finish. This 
 makes an attractive cabinet because of the striking figure, and its 
 appearance is generally admired. Plain-sawed wood is also used, 
 which is usually finished like oak and birch. The average price re- 
 ported for sycamore by manufacturers of sewing machines was $18 
 per 1,000 board feet. 
 
 WOODENWARE AND NOVELTIES. 
 
 Under woodenware and novelties are included a large number of 
 small articles that can not be properly classified under the other 
 industries. Important among these articles are paper-roll plugs (fig. 
 3). They are connected in pairs by a stick and are used for hold- 
 
 FiG. 3 ■ 
 
 -Paper roll plugs of sycamore connected by a cylindrical piece of softwood. 
 roUs of wrapping paper. 
 
 Used for holding 
 
 ing rolls of paper, chiefly wrapping paper, for grocers, druggists, and 
 others. Of all the woods commonly used for tliis purpose, sycamore 
 is said to be the most suitable because it readily takes a smooth 
 finish, has a clean appearance, and is very cheap. Maple is also a 
 good wood for this use, except that it is more expensive. Gum, elm, 
 and ash are also commonly used. Slabs are cut into squares, which 
 are run through a machine. Tlie ends of the squares are rounded 
 and tapered, bored out, and cut off by this machine. The plugs are 
 dried and polished by being rolled against each other, the friction 
 giving them a smooth finish. They are turned out in carload 
 quantities. The other articles included under this heading — cheese 
 supports and stereoscopes — are made only occasionally of sycamore. 
 A low average price, $13 per 1,000 board feet at the factory, was 
 reported by manufacturers for these uses. 
 
 OTHER FACTORY USES. 
 
 Sycamore is used in a small way by a large number of other wood- 
 using industries. The entire amount reported was only about 1 per 
 cent of the total. This went into toys, brush blocks, vehicles, ships 
 and boats (chiefly for the inside finish), saddles and ox yokes, sporting 
 and athletic goods, picture frames and molding, and washing-machine 
 parts. Sycamore is used to a limited extent for second-grade axles, 
 
18 
 
 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 poles, and reaches of vehicles, but is much inferior to species more 
 commonly used for these parts, as hickory and oak. 
 
 FUEL. 
 
 Sycamore trees are well adapted for conversion, wholly or in part, 
 into fuel wood because they are to a great extent made up of large 
 limbs which are not suitable for other purposes. Sycamore wood, 
 however, does not have so high a heating value as many other woods, 
 as, for instance, oak and beech. A standard cord of these, made up 
 of 4-foot sticks in a pile 8 feet long and 4 feet high, is approximately 
 equivalent in heating value to 1 ton of coal. About 1^ standard 
 cords of sycamore are necessary to give the heating value of 1 ton of 
 coal. This puts sycamore in the class of red gum and soft maple. 
 
 No statistics are available on the amount of sycamore used for fuel. 
 Smce the tree is so Avidely distributed and is quite prevalent along 
 streams and on overflow land which can not be cultivated, and 
 since, moreover, the wood is not especially difficult to convert into 
 cordwood and is a satisfactory fuel wood, considerable quantities 
 are doubtless used locally by farmers for this purpose. 
 
 LUMBER AND TIMBER VALUES. 
 
 LUMBER PRICES. 
 
 The average value of sycamore lumber f. o. b. mills is secured by 
 the Forest Service from manufacturers' reports on annual lumber 
 production. This value is given, by States and years, in Table 7. 
 
 Table 7. — Average value of sycamore lumber per 1,000 board feet f. o. b. mills, in different 
 
 States, for different years. 
 
 State. 
 
 1899 
 
 1904 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1915 
 
 1916 
 
 1917 
 
 1918 
 
 United States 
 
 .$11.04 
 
 S13. 1^ 
 
 $14.58 
 
 S14. 67 
 
 $14. 77 
 
 $14. 10 
 
 $13. 16 
 
 S13. 86 
 
 $14. 65 
 
 $18.68 
 
 $23.59 
 
 Arkansas 
 
 9.49 
 12.05 
 
 9.75 
 12.00 
 11.20 
 12. 55 
 
 9.74 
 10.19 
 11.49 
 10.00 
 14.00 
 
 9.49 
 14.26 
 12.65 
 
 'ii.'os' 
 
 14.65 
 12.81 
 14.13 
 
 'ii.'se' 
 
 11.63 
 
 13.10 
 16.71 
 14.70 
 14.42 
 13.14 
 16.92 
 12.43 
 15.25 
 11.54 
 10.00 
 13.88 
 15.82 
 18.00 
 11.00 
 
 12.78 
 17.78 
 12. 67 
 15.24 
 13.33 
 16. 46 
 13.01 
 13.60 
 12.35 
 11.75 
 12.81 
 10.00 
 10.53 
 
 iisi' 
 
 15.00 
 14.59 
 17.41 
 19.00 
 10.00 
 
 15.27 
 17.20 
 13.15 
 13.48 
 12.87 
 18.08 
 13.12 
 14.94 
 10.91 
 14.30 
 12.52 
 11.44 
 11.67 
 12.11 
 14.74 
 13.10 
 15.01 
 16.35 
 22.73 
 12.76 
 
 12.81 
 16.65 
 12.21 
 13. 75 
 11.65 
 17.38 
 13.37 
 14.68 
 
 'i2.'45' 
 12.40 
 13. 75 
 13.92 
 12.00 
 11.56 
 
 12.21 
 15.19 
 12.04 
 
 'ii.'ee' 
 
 15.02 
 12.05 
 16.93 
 11.67 
 
 ii'si' 
 
 14.15 
 12.20 
 
 13.72 
 14.36 
 12.66 
 15.73 
 13.17 
 15.53 
 14.55 
 14.88 
 11.28 
 12.11 
 11.83 
 12.03 
 11.37 
 
 12.73 
 18.15 
 12.51 
 17.15 
 14.48 
 18.53 
 14.10 
 14.23 
 9.45 
 15.47 
 13.57 
 11.68 
 11.29 
 14.25 
 16.22 
 13.65 
 17.68 
 18.27 
 19.67 
 13.97 
 20.00 
 15.00 
 17.50 
 14.50 
 17.50 
 
 16. 28 
 22.01 
 20.97 
 16.59 
 16.64 
 21.13 
 16.55 
 23.62 
 15.69 
 16.94 
 17.10 
 16. 93 
 14.47 
 19. 08 
 18.56 
 16.00 
 17.40 
 22. 34 
 21.25 
 21.40 
 17.75 
 19. 46 
 15.00 
 18.00 
 35.00 
 
 23.29 
 
 
 29.05 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 22.12 
 
 
 20.26 
 
 
 21.35 
 
 Ohio 
 
 26.80 
 
 
 19.48 
 
 Illinois 
 
 23.04 
 
 Virginia 
 
 20.05 
 
 Mississippi 
 
 24.63 
 
 Oklahoma 
 
 20.11 
 
 North Carolina 
 
 24.24 
 
 
 
 21.93 
 
 
 
 23.98 
 
 
 
 
 11.50 
 
 'i'i'.m 
 
 15.97 
 19.58 
 17.21 
 13.57 
 16. 00 
 14.02 
 
 24.21 
 
 
 
 12.00 
 18.71 
 21.32 
 20.00 
 10.43 
 
 8.00 
 16.95 
 15.74 
 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 
 15. 75 
 16.27 
 18. 63 
 14.00 
 15. 00 
 15.13 
 16.67 
 
 13.87 
 14.33 
 18.50 
 9.13 
 
 26. 64 
 
 Micliigan 
 
 11.33 
 15.00 
 
 25.00 
 
 Iowa , 
 
 25.00 
 
 Alabama 
 
 21.16 
 
 
 15.36 
 
 19.44 
 
 Texas 
 
 
 
 16.00 
 
 17.00 
 16.00 
 19.90 
 17.47 
 
 22.51 
 
 
 13.28 
 
 
 
 16.50 
 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 14.59 
 30.00 
 
 
 15.00 
 16.50 
 
 32.19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 40.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 
 
 19 
 
 The present wholesale prices of different grades of plain and 
 quarter-sawed sycamore lumber in the principal centers of its dis- 
 tribution are given in Table 8. 
 
 STUMPAGE AND LOG PRICES. 
 
 Figures showing the value of standing sycamore timber for differ- 
 ent years are not available. Since the tree occurs in such small 
 stands and is usually cut along with other species, a fair price for the 
 sycamore alone is difficult to determine. 
 
 Cooperage factories find it to their advantage to buy tracts of 
 mixed hardwood timber at a convenient distance and cut and bring 
 it to the mill. Such timber tracts have sold in Arkansas for $1.50 
 per 1,000 board feet log scale, including sycamore and several other 
 species. In normal times the sycamore has been logged and trans- 
 ported by railroad to the factory at a cost of from $5 to $6 per 1,000 
 board feet, m.aking a total cost to the factory of about $7 per 1,000. 
 Factories similarly situated and not owning their timber have gen- 
 erally paid from $2 to $3 more per 1,000 board feet for sj^camore. 
 High-grade sycamore logs cost considerably more. 
 
 Table 8. — Average wholesale prices of 1-inch sycamore lumber in representative centers 
 of its distribution and utilization, by quarter years. 
 
 [Prices furnished by the Lumbermen's Bureau.] 
 
 Centers. 
 
 1917 
 
 1919 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds . . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds . . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 NORFOLK & RICHMOND 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds. . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds - . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 EVANSVILLE. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds. . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log rim 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds . . 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 $38.33 
 28.00 
 23.50 
 19.17 
 28.50 
 
 53.00 
 42.67 
 
 31.67 
 24.00 
 
 18.17 
 14.17 
 24.50 
 
 47.00 
 42.33 
 
 32.17 
 23.17 
 16.33 
 12.33 
 29.83 
 
 46.67 
 36.67 
 
 $40.00 
 31.00 
 25.67 
 20.67 
 31.67 
 
 55.67 
 45.67 
 
 36.00 
 27.00 
 21.67 
 16.67 
 27.67 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 
 34.17 
 25.17 
 18.83 
 14.83 
 25.33 
 
 47.67 
 37.67 
 
 $43.00 
 34.00 
 28.00 
 29.00 
 
 $43.00 
 34.00 
 28. 00 
 29,00 
 
 34.00 34.67 
 
 54.00 
 44.00 
 
 39.00 
 30.00 
 24.00 
 20.00 
 
 53.67 
 43.67 
 
 39.00 
 30.00 
 24.00 
 20.00 
 
 30.00 30.67 
 
 50.00 
 40.00 
 
 37.00 
 28.00 
 22.00 
 18.00 
 28.00 
 
 48. 00 
 38.00 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 
 $43. 33 
 34.33 
 28.33 
 29.33 
 35.33 
 
 53.00 
 43.00 
 
 39.33 
 30.33 
 24.33 
 20.33 
 31.33 
 
 49.00 
 39.00 
 
 37.00 37.33 
 
 28.00 28.33 
 
 18.00 18.33 
 
 28.00 28.33 
 
 47.67 
 37.67 
 
 $44.83 
 35.83 
 29. 83 
 30.83 
 36.83 
 
 53.85 
 43.83 
 
 40.67 
 31.67 
 25.67 
 21.67 
 32.67 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 
 38.83 
 29.83 
 19.83 
 29.83 
 
 .$46. 50 
 37.83 
 31.50 
 32. .50 
 38. 50 
 
 56.50 
 46.50 
 
 42.50 
 33.83 
 27.50 
 23.50 
 34.50 
 
 52.50 
 42.50 
 
 40.50 
 31.83 
 
 22.83 
 28.17 
 
 $41.83144.50 
 36.83 
 31.83 
 30.17 
 
 36.83 
 
 $50. 50 
 40.50 
 30.50 
 
 39.50 
 34.50 
 29.50 
 39.50 39.50 
 
 $52.83 
 36.17 
 32.83 
 
 $61.67 
 41.67 
 40.67 
 
 59.83 62.50 
 49.83 52.50 
 
 37.83 
 32.83 
 27.83 
 22.83 
 33.17 
 
 55.83 
 45.83 
 
 35.83 
 30.83 
 25.83 
 20.83 
 
 47.00 
 37.00 
 
 47.83 
 37.83 
 
 50.50 
 40.50 
 
 53.83 
 43.83 
 
 40.50 
 36.17 
 30.50 
 25. .50 
 36.50 
 
 58.50 
 48.50 
 
 38.50 
 33.50 
 
 28.50 
 23. 50 
 34.50 
 
 56.50 
 46.50 
 
 58.50 
 48.50 
 
 46.50 
 36.50 
 26.50 
 
 43.50 
 
 62.50 
 45.83 
 
 50.17 
 40.17 
 33.17 
 
 71.67 
 51.67 
 
 59.67 
 49.67 
 48.67 
 
 36.50 
 
 54.50 
 
 44.50 
 
 44.50 
 34.50 
 24.50 
 
 63.17 
 53.17 
 
 45.83 
 35.50 
 25.50 
 
 49.67 
 
 79.67 
 69.67 
 
 54.00 
 43.67 
 32.67 
 
 34.50 
 
 36.50 
 
 52.50 55.17 
 42.50 45.17 
 
 43.67 
 
 63.67 
 53.67 
 
20 
 
 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Table 8. — Average wholesale 'prices of 1-inch sycamore lumber in representative centers 
 of its distribution and utilization, by quarter years — Continued. 
 
 Centers. 
 
 1917 
 
 1918 
 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 No. 1 common. . .. 
 No. 2 common. ... 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 No. 1 common 
 
 ST. LOUIS. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common . 
 
 No. 3 common . . . . 
 Lognm 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 No. 1 common 
 
 KjVnsas city. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds. 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds. 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 ?33..33 
 24.33 
 20.50 
 16.50 
 24.83 
 
 48.33 
 38.33 
 
 31.50 
 22.50 
 16. 67 
 12. 67 
 23.00 
 
 46.17 
 36.17 
 
 $36.00 
 27.00 
 21.67 
 17.67 
 27.67 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 
 33.50 
 24.50 
 19.17 
 15.17 
 25.17 
 
 47.17 
 37.17 
 
 $39.00 
 30.00 
 24.00 
 20.00 
 30.00 
 
 50.00 
 40.00 
 
 36.50 
 27.50 
 21.50 
 17.50 
 27.50 
 
 47.50 
 37.50 
 
 $39.00 
 30. 00 
 24.00 
 20.00 
 30.67 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 
 36.50 
 27.50 
 21.50 
 17.50 
 27.50 
 
 47.50 
 37.50 
 
 $39.33 
 30.33 
 24.33 
 20.33 
 31.33 
 
 $40.83 
 31.83 
 25.83 
 21.83 
 32.83 
 
 49.00 49.83 
 39.00 39.83 
 
 $43.00 
 34.33 
 28. 00 
 24.00 
 35.33 
 
 53.00 
 43.00 
 
 36.83 38.33 
 27.50. 28.33 
 
 21.8;i 
 17.83 
 27.83 
 
 46.50 
 36.50 
 
 34.17 35. 50 
 25.17 26.50 
 
 LOS ANGELES, SAN FRAN- 
 CISCO, AND SEATTLE. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 CAIRO AND THEBES. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 common 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 MEIIPHIS. 
 
 4/4 plain: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 No. 2 conunon 
 
 No. 3 common 
 
 Log run 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 Firsts and seconds 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 18.33 
 14.33 
 26.17 
 
 48.67 
 38.67 
 
 54.33 
 
 61.67 
 
 29.83 
 20.83 
 17.00 
 13.00 
 24.00 
 
 44.83 
 34.83 
 
 27.67 
 18.67 
 14.83 
 10.83 
 20.17 
 
 20.17 
 16.17 
 27.00 
 
 38.00 38.00! 38.33 
 29.00 29.00! 29.33 
 
 23.00 
 19.00 
 29.00 
 
 49.00 49.00 
 39.00 39.00 
 
 56.00 
 40.50 
 
 62.67 
 52.50 
 
 52.00 
 43.00 
 
 63.00 
 53.00 
 
 23.00 23. 33 
 19.00| 19.33 
 29.67! 30.33 
 
 ! 
 
 49.001 48.00 
 39.00 38.00 
 
 52.00| 52.33 
 43.00! 43.33 
 
 63.00 
 53.00 
 
 32.50 35.50 35.50 
 
 23.50! 26.50J 26.50 
 
 18.17 20.50 20.50 
 
 14.17 16.50 16.50 
 
 24.17 26.50 27.17 
 
 46.17: 46.50! 46.50 
 36.17 36.50 36.50 
 
 30.00 33.00! 33.00 
 21.00| 24.00! 24.00 
 15.67; IS.OOi 18.00 
 11.67 14.00 14.00 
 21.67 24.00 24.67 
 
 62.00 
 52.00 
 
 35.83 
 26.83 
 20.83 
 16.83 
 27.83 
 
 45. 50 
 35.50 
 
 33.00 
 24.00 
 18.00 
 14.00 
 25.00 
 
 40.00 
 30.33 
 25. 00 
 21.00 
 
 23.33 
 19 33 
 29.33 31.33 
 
 47.33 50.00 
 37.33 40.00 
 
 39.83 42.00 
 30.83' 33.33 
 
 $38.33 
 33.33 
 28 33 
 23.. 33 
 34.33 
 
 56.33 
 46.33 
 
 35.33 
 29.33 
 25.33 
 20.33 
 30.33 
 
 $41.00 
 36.00 
 31.00 
 26.00 
 37.00 
 
 59.00 
 49.00 
 
 38.00 
 32.67 
 28.00 
 23.00 
 33.67 
 
 $47.00 
 37.00 
 27. 00 
 
 $49. 00 
 39.00 
 29.00 
 
 $57.67 
 47.67 
 36.67 
 
 37.00 
 
 55.00 
 45.00 
 
 44.00 
 34.00 
 24.00 
 
 33.33 
 
 58.67 
 48.67 
 
 46.00 
 36.17 
 26.00 
 
 37.67 
 
 67.67 
 57.67 
 
 54.67 
 45.17 
 33.67 
 
 24.83 
 20.83 
 31.83 
 
 48.83 
 38.83 
 
 27.00 
 23.00 
 34.00 
 
 52.00 
 42.00 
 
 53.83 58.67 
 44.83 49.00 
 
 62.83 
 52.83 
 
 37.17 
 28. 17 
 22.17 
 18.17 
 29.17 
 
 46.50 
 36.17 
 
 34.83 
 25.83 
 19.83 
 15.83 
 26.83 
 
 67.67 
 57.67 
 
 38.00 
 29.33 
 23.00 
 19.00 
 30.33 
 
 48.00 
 38.00 
 
 35. 50 
 26.83 
 20.50 
 16.50 
 27.83 
 
 42.67 43.67 44.00 43.67 43.00 43.83 45.50 48.83 51.50 47.50 50.83 59.67 
 32.67 33.67 34. OO' 33.67' 33.00 33.83 35.50 38.83' 41.50 37.50 40.83 49.67 
 
 53.33 56.00 
 43.33 46.00 
 
 37.33 40.00 
 32.33 35.00 
 27.33, 30.00 
 22.331 25.00 
 32.33! 35.00 
 
 34.00 
 
 52.00 
 42.00 
 
 46.00 
 36.00 
 26.00 
 
 55.67 
 45.67 
 
 64.67 
 54.67 
 
 48.00 56.67 
 38.00 43.33 
 28.00, 35.67 
 
 55.33 
 45.33 
 
 58.00 
 48.00 
 
 59.33 62.00 
 52.00 56.00 
 
 35.00 
 
 54.00 
 44.00 
 
 68.00 
 57.00 
 
 57.67 66.67 
 47.671 56.67 
 
 68.00 
 57.50 
 
 74.33 
 64.33 
 
 77.00 
 67.00 
 
 33.33 36.00 
 28.33, 31.00 
 23.33i 26.00 
 18.33 21.00 
 29.33 32.00 
 
 51.33 54.00 
 41.33 44.00 
 
 30.83 33.50 
 
 25.83 28.50 
 
 20.83 23.50 
 
 15.83 18.50 
 
 26.83 29.50 
 
 73.00 
 63.00 
 
 42.00 
 32.00 
 22.00 
 
 74.50 
 64.50 
 
 44.25 
 34.25 
 24.25 
 
 32.00 
 
 50.00 
 40.00 
 
 37.87 
 29.50 
 19.50 
 
 34.25 
 
 52.25 
 42.25 
 
 41.17 
 31.17 
 21.17 
 
 75.67 
 05.67 
 
 85.67 
 75.67 
 
 .54.17 
 44.17 
 33.17 
 
 44.17 
 
 64.17 
 54.17 
 
 49.67 
 39.67 
 26.00 
 
 29.50 
 
 32.17 39.67 
 
UTILIZATIOIT OF SYCAMOEE. 
 
 21 
 
 Table 8. — Average ivholesale prices of 1-inch sycamore lumber in representative centers 
 of its distribution and utilization, by quarter years — Continued. 
 
 
 1917. 
 
 1918. 
 
 1919. 
 
 Centers. 
 
 3 
 C 
 
 .1 
 
 m 
 3 
 
 ft 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 4-3 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 ■3.2 
 
 §■. 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 c3 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 C3 
 3 
 
 B 
 
 ■S » 
 
 3 
 o 
 
 Lo^^s^^LLE. 
 4 '4 plain: 
 
 
 $34.50 
 25.50 
 19.75 
 15. 75 
 24.50 
 
 47.50 
 37.50 
 
 $37.00 
 28.00 
 22.00 
 18.00 
 28.00 
 
 48.00 
 38.00 
 
 $37.00 
 28.00 
 18.00 
 28.00 
 
 $37.00 
 28.00 
 18.00 
 28.00 
 
 $38.83 
 29.83 
 19.83 
 29.83 
 
 $40. 50 
 31.83 
 22.83 
 28.17 
 31.50 
 
 50.50 
 40.50 
 
 $35.83 
 30.83 
 25.83 
 20.83 
 30.50 
 
 53.83 
 43.83 
 
 $38.50 
 33.50 
 28.50 
 23.50 
 34.50 
 
 56.50 
 46.50 
 
 $44. 50 $45. 83 
 34.50 35. 50 
 24.50 25.50 
 
 $54. 17 
 
 No. 1 common ' 
 
 43.67 
 
 
 32.67 
 
 No. 3 common ' 
 
 
 
 $22.00 
 
 34.50 
 
 52., 50 
 42.50 
 
 36.50 
 
 55.17 
 
 45.17 
 
 43.67 
 
 4/4 quartered: 
 
 47.67 
 37.67 
 
 47.00 
 37.00 
 
 47.83 
 37.83 
 
 63.67 
 
 No. 1 common 
 
 
 53.67 
 
 
 
 
 Sycamore logs are often secured in rafts, but the price does not 
 differ greatly from, that of logs delivered by railroad. In the region 
 of Cairo, 111., it is said to cost about $5 per 1,000 board-feet log scale 
 to bring the timber to the factory from points up the rivers where it is 
 collected. 
 
 MARKETS. 
 
 Sycamore is usually sold in the log, since factories consuming large 
 amounts can generally make use of it to best advantage in that form. 
 Much of it is marketed in rafts to factories on the lower Ohio and 
 Mississippi Rivers. It has often been sold to factories in mixture 
 with other species, such as red gum, cottonwood, elm, and ash, for 
 from $8 to $10 per 1,000 board-feet log scale for all species. Stave 
 and heading factories have generally paid from SIO to $12 per 1,000 
 for sycamore logs of fairly good quality, but the price is quite variable, 
 depending for the most part on the quality. 
 
 Factories do not usually care for sycamore logs larger than 24 
 inches in diameter at the most ; for the larger logs are Ukely to have 
 ring shakes, hollow centers, and liidden defects. Basket factories 
 prefer a diameter of from 16 to 20 inches, although they can often use 
 sizes as small as 10 inches. Stave factories can use small logs to good 
 advantage and prefer sizes that measure between 10 and 15 inches in 
 diameter when cut into bolts. Factories making berry boxes and 
 tobacco boxes aft'ord the best markets for sycamore logs of good 
 quality. In these markets they should bring from $15 to $20 per 
 1,000 board feet in normal times. Some factories have paid as much 
 as $22 per 1,000 for high grade logs. Sycamore logs can usually be 
 sold to chair factories at a fairly good price. Large defective logs 
 could formerly be disposed of to makers of butchers' blocks, but so 
 few of the old-fashioned sycamore blocks are now made that there is 
 practically no market for them for this purpose. The best way to 
 dispose of such logs, if they are not too defective, is to convert them 
 into lumber. 
 
22 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Furniture and tobacco box factories afford a good market for 
 sycamore lumber. They generally use 4/4 and 5/4 plain sycamore of 
 the No. 1 common and better grades. Fm-niture factories generally 
 use quartered stock. Manufacturers of cheap chairs can utilize low- 
 grade lumber. They buy tliick planks and use all grades except cull. 
 Planing-mill, sash, door, blind, and general milhvork factories often 
 use sycamore in the form of lumber. 
 
 GRADING RULES. 
 
 Sycamore lumber is graded under the Xational Hardwood Lumber 
 Association Rules. There are separate classifications for plain and 
 quartered sycamore. Lengths are from 4 to 16 feet, but not over 15 
 per cent of odd lengths are admitted. Thicknesses are f, f , h, f , |, 1, 
 IJ, H, If, 2, 2*, 3, 3h, 4, 4i, 5, 5*, and 6 inches. Widths are 3 inches 
 and over. 
 
 Plain sycamore is graded under the same rules as beech, birch, hard 
 maple, and hackberry, and the grades are as follows: Firsts, seconds, 
 selects. No. 1 common, No. 2 common, wormy, and No. 3 common. 
 Inspection is made on the poor side of each piece. Firsts are 6 inches 
 and over wide, 8 feet and over long, and pieces with 4 to 9 feet surface 
 measure must be clear. Larger pieces can have one or two standard 
 defects, depending on the size of the piece. Seconds are 6 inches and 
 over wide, 8 feet and over long, and can have from one to five standard 
 defects according to size of the piece. Firsts and seconds are gener- 
 ally combined as one grade and designated as "FAS.'' In tliis com- 
 bined grade not more than 20 per cent of the pieces can be under 12 
 feet long and not more than 10 per cent of 8 and 9 foot lengths are 
 allowed. Selects are 4 inches and over wide, 6 feet and over long, 
 admitting 30 per cent under 12 feet long and 5 per cent of 6 and 7 foot 
 lengths. In general, pieces in tliis grade must be practically or 
 nearly clear on the best face and the reverse side must be up to the 
 No. 1 common grade. No. 1 commons are 3 inches and over wide, 
 with not to exceed 5 per cent of 3-inch \\'idths, and 4 feet and over 
 long, with not over 30 per cent shorter than 10 feet and not to exceed 
 10 per cent of 4 and 5 feet lengths. Pieces 4 and 5 feet long, and 3 
 and 4 inches wide 6 and 7 feet long must be clear. Larger pieces 
 must work 66f per cent clear fiice in not over 2, 3, or 4 cuttings de- 
 pending on Avddth and length of piece with specified minimum sizes 
 of cuttings. No. 2 commons are 3 inches and over wide, 4 feet and 
 over long, with not more than 10 per cent of 4 and 5 feet lengths 
 admitted. Pieces must work 50 per cent clear face in not over 3, 4, 
 or 5 cuttings (not less than 3 inches wide and 2 feet long) accorchng to 
 size of piece. In wormy grade pin-worm holes are not considered a 
 defect, and it is a combination of all grades included in No. 2 common 
 and better. No. 3 commons are 3 inches and over wide, 4 feet and 
 over long, and each piece must contain at least 25 per cent of sound 
 cuttings of a minimum width of 1 \ inches and a minimum area of 36 
 square inches. 
 
UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. 23 
 
 The grading rules for quarter-sawed sycamore are the same as for 
 plain-sawed except that the combined grade of firsts and seconds 
 and selects must show figure on one face not less than 90 per cent in 
 the aggregate and the cuttings in No. 1 common and No. 2 common 
 must show figure on one face. There is a slight difference also in the 
 grade No. 1 common, the rules for plain sycamore allowing a large 
 number of cuttings in the longest pieces. 
 
 Association log grades have not been formulated for sycamore, 
 since it is so largely purchased for special uses, and the value of any 
 particular log depends to a great extent not only upon its size and 
 quality but also upon what is to be manufactured from it. 
 
 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 
 
 Although neither a high-priced nor a plentiful wood, sycamore is 
 w^ell regarded for certain uses. It is particularly in demand for such 
 containers as slack barrels and plug-tobacco boxes because it does 
 not impart stain, taste, or odor, has a clean and pleasing appear- 
 ance, is fairly strong, and works and seasons well. Quarter-sawed 
 material is desirable for the outside fuiish of various products. 
 
 There would be a good market for sycamore if a sufficient and 
 constant supply could be assured. However, on accomit of the occa- 
 sional occurrence of the timber the supply is irregular, and recently 
 there seems to have been less of it available than in former years. 
 Red gum is being substituted for sycamore to a very large extent for 
 tobacco boxes and slack staves, and, with improved methods in 
 worlving and seasoning, has proved satisfactory to a degree, although 
 it does not present so good an appearance. 
 
 There will probably always be considerable though occasional sup- 
 plies of sycamore available, since the tree occupies flood lands and 
 areas along the streams not suitable for cultivation. Although many 
 other trees are worth more in the market, sycamore is valuable to 
 the agriculturist along streams for keeping his land from wasliing, 
 and its growth should, therefore, be encouraged in such situations. 
 
 Sycamore can usually be most readily disposed of in the log to 
 factories making berry boxes, tobacco boxes, and slack cooperage. 
 Large logs are, as a rule, not so valuable on accomit of large defects. 
 Furniture factories usually afford the best market for sycamore 
 limiber, both plain and quartered. Factories making inside finish 
 materials also use comparatively large quantities. 
 
 Owners of sycamore timber seeking a suitable market for their 
 product should make inquiry as to possible local markets for the 
 raw material, the firms that use it, the form desired at the factory, 
 and the prices paid both for logs and for semi-finished products. 
 They should also obtain information about specifications, the prep- 
 aration of stock, seasoning, sliipping instructions, quotations, etc., 
 from different industries located in their vicinity. For information 
 on local markets or those relatively near by, they should write the 
 forestry officials of their 'own States. 
 
24 BULLETIN 884, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 CLASSIFIED LIST OF USES REPORTED FOR SYCAMORE BY FACTORIES. 
 
 Agricultural implements. — ^Agricultural implements, lioxes, chutes, compartments, 
 hoppers, tlu'asliing machines. 
 
 Boxes and crates. — ^Basket parts; baskets, fruit; baskets, grape; baskets, stave; 
 baskets, vegetable; bottle, packing; box shooks; boxes; boxes, cigar; boxes, tobacco; 
 boxes, veneer; cases, berry; cases, egg; cases, tobacco; cases, tomato; crates, bottle; 
 crates, onion; crating; heading, fruit package; hoppers, fruit; hoppers, vegetable; 
 packages, fruit; packages, vegetable; slats, fruit package. 
 
 Carpet sweepers. — Carpet-sweeper cases, carpet sweepers. 
 
 Brushes. — Brush blocks. 
 
 Butchers' blocks. — Blocks, butchers'; blocks meat. 
 
 Equipment, playground. — Horses, merry-go-round. 
 
 Frames and molding, picture. — Frames, picture; molding, picture. 
 
 Furniture. — Bin sides, kitchen cabinet; bed slats; beds, folding; bookcases; bureaus; 
 chairs; chiffoniers; china closets; consoles; cores, bank fixtures; cores, store fixtures; 
 counters, bar; desk drawers; desks; drawer backs; drawer bottoms; drawer sides; 
 fixtures, bank; fixtures, office; fixtures, store; foot stools; furniture, bedroom; furniture, 
 case goods; furniture, kitchen; ice boxes; mirror backing; music cabinets; partition, 
 kitchen cabinets; pigeonholes, desk; refrigerators! rockers; shelves, kitchen cabinet; 
 showcases; side rails, bed; stools; table legs; table tops; tables. 
 
 Haiidles. — Handles, hoe; handles, rake; handles, saw. 
 
 Musical instruments. — Guitar bodies; mandolin boxes; organ cases; organs, pipe, 
 organs, reed; piano backs; piano cases. 
 
 Planing mill products. — Beams, dining-room ceiling; carpet strips; chair rails; 
 ceiling; finish; flat battens; flooring; interior finish; molding; molding, bed; molding, 
 brick; molding, cap; molding, cove; molding, crown; molding, door; molding, house; 
 molding, plaster; molding, quarter-round; molding, screen; molding, spring cove; 
 molding, window; molds, partition; nosing; panel strij^s; plate rails; sheathing; 
 shehing; siding; trim; wainscot rails. 
 
 Saddles and harness. — Ox yokes; saddle trees. 
 
 Sash, doors, blinds, and general millworh. — Base blocks; baseboards; base comers; 
 blind stops; blinds; brackets; cabinetwork; colonnades; comer blocks; door casing; 
 door stops; doors; doors, folding; doors, front; doors, sliding; dust caps; fillet; fly 
 screens; frames, door; frames, front door, side light; frames, window; gable ornaments; 
 general millwork; grills; head blocks; head casing; jambs, door; mantels; mirrors; 
 panels; parting stops; sash; sink aprons; stair work; window aprons; -ndndow casing; 
 window stops. 
 
 Shade rollers. — Curtain poles; Venetian blinds. 
 
 Ship and boat building. — Boat parts; boats; cabins, interior, ships and yacnis; 
 finish, boats; ships and boats. 
 
 Signs and supplies. — Barber poles. 
 
 Slack cooperage. — Heading; staves. 
 
 Sporting and athletic goods. — Tennis frame reinforcements. 
 
 Toys. — Game boards. 
 
 Trunks and valises. — Trunk slats; trunks. 
 
 Vehicles and vehicle parts. — Carriages; cart trees; step bars, vehicle bodies; vehicle 
 sides; wagon bottoms; wagon stock. 
 
 Woodenware and novelties. — Cheese supports; plugs, paper roll; stereoscopes. 
 
 o 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 DDDm55ESE5