Graham guardian., 1922-08-01

| F9nIrO-Jeu WITH the proDlein Oh WHEN
Is. sell standing timber and when to
cut 1t for use on the farm.
Experience has demonstrated that In
some localities II unquestionably pays
the farmer better at all times to sell,
particularly the more valuable kinds
Of wood. For example, In the central
hardwood region farmers sell their
select yellow poplar trees profitably
and with the money buy and haul back
to the farm for distances Of from
four to eight miles southern pine sid
ing for their houses and barns. On
the other hand, there are too often
instances where one finds choice white
oak of the best quality, suitable for
| veneer or furniture stock sawed up
into posts for the farm.
Keep In Touch With Market.
1t would be well for the owner to
keep In touch with market conditions,
so he may market his product to the
best advantage. With rarely an ex-
ception the timber is not dying, decay
Ing or "going back" by fungus or In
| oCNl Ut thC dICsCo
by buyers, who, obviously, desire to
buy as cheaply as possible. Unless
it is overmature 1t Is increasing yearly
in volume and value.
Cutting during the early period Of
growth, says the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, often repre-
sents real sacrifice in financial re-
turns. The approximate age at which
trees should be cut in order to obtain
the highest returns year Is very
different for different species. Thus
cottonwood, ash. hickory and yellow
/ poplar become commercially valuable
| at much earlier ages than white oak
! md black walnut
When other farm work is least
| pressing many farmers find 1t profit
| ahle to turn their attention to estimat-
ing. measuring, cutting, marketing and
selling their timber, Spare help and
! time to supervise the work make the
| winter a favorable season for this. II
is easier to haul logs on the snow than
over ordinary roads, and the logs are
| less liable than at any other time of
the year to deterlorate quickly through
/ attacks Of insects or fungi.
Best Method of Selling.
| The choice of methods of selling de-
! pends largely upon the kind of timber
/ and the owners knowledge Of it's
value, his past experience and the
condition of the market. Timber prod
ucts are sold either In the standing
| tree or In more or less roughly man
I; lfactured condition. Except when
sold by the lot or lump, sales are
| based upon a measure by log scale or
lumber tally or upon individual count
Of units of designated size or char
| lcter.
| Timber, sold by the lot, boundary or
! tract is either dumped or to include
! I designated tract or sold on an acre
! ige basis. This methoa has prevailed
over all others, particularly in the
-ougher and less-settled districts. AS
| rule II is strongly favored by the
! purchaser because In such transac-
| Ion his better knowledge Of both TIM
! Der yields and values gives him an
/ advantage over the average owner.
Many examples Of the sacrifice by
| the owner of large share of the
! ralue of the timber can be found In
nearly any wooded region. On ac-
sount OF greater competition among
| purchasers and better understanding
IN the part of the owners of timber
values, sales of standing timber by
The lot or lump are now being made
With better profit than formerly.
In using this method II is very I'm
portant, in advance of the sale, first
10 secure good estimate Of the guam
tlty, quality and unit value of each
kind of product in the stand; then to
get bids from as many buyers as
possible; and finally, TO have an
agreement clearly specifying the re-
strlctions In regard to the manner and
amount of cutting so as not to impair
the producing power Of the forest.
The sale may include only trees above
A specified minimum diameter. or such
trees as have been previously marked
! by the owner for cutting When prop
| srly safeguarded, this becomes one of
The safest and most satisfactory Of all
methods Of selling and should receive
full consideration when sales are con-
| tempiated.
! Place Restrictions.
Selling by lump eliminates the anx-
lety and misunderstandings attending
sales by log-scale measurement. II
competition is keen, 1t Is likely that
nearly or quite the full value Of the
timber will be reached in the bids. BY
! tbls method, however, the owner fore
goes the opportunity Of profitable en-
ployment for himself and his teams
which he would have II he logged the
material and sold II after hauling II
to the mill or shipping point.
Unless restricted by the terms Of