The Southern herald., 1922-07-14
prepared by ths United States Department
Of ARrIrulfura

| confronted with the problem Of when
to sell standing timber and when to
cut 1t for use on the farm
Experience has demonstrated that in
some localities it 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 proiitably
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.
II would be well for the owner to
keep in touch with market conditions,
50 he may market his product to the
best advantage. With rarely an ex-
ceptlOn the timber is not dying, decay
Ing or going back" by fungus or in
sect attack at the rapid rate alleged
by buyers, who, obviously, desire to
Iuy as cheaply as possible, Unless
1t is oyermature 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 a real sacrifice in financial re-
turns, The approximate age at which
trees should be cut in order to obtain
the highest returns a year Is very
different for different species. Thus
cottonwood, ash, hickory and yellow
poplar become commercially valuable
at much earlier ages than white oak
and black walnut.
When other farm work Is least
pressing many farmers find 1t profit
able 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. 1t
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 deteriorate 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 a more or less roughly man
ufactured condition. Except when
sold by the lot or lump, sales are
based upon measure by log scale or
lumber tally or upon individual count
of units Of designated size or char
acter
Timber sold by the lot, boundary, or
tract is either dumped off, to include
a designated tract or sold on an acre
age basis. This method has prevailed
over all others, particularly in the
rOugher and less-Setted districts. AS
a rule it is strongly favored by the
purchaser because in such a transaC-
don 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
value Of the timber can be found in
nearly any wooded region. On ac-
count of greater competition among
purchasers and better understanding
On 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 it is very i'm
pOrtant, in advance of the sale, first
to secure good estimate of the guam
tity, 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-
strictlOns 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
specified minimum diameter, or sucn
trees as have been previously marked
by the owner for cutting. When prop
erly safeguarded, this becomes one Of
the safest and most satisfactory Of all
methods of selling and should receive
full consideration when sales are con-
templated.
Place Restrictions.
Selling by lump eliminates the anx-
lety and Misunderstanding attending
sales by log-scale measurement, If
competition is keen, 1t is likely that
nearly or quite the full value of the
timber will be reached in the bids. By
this method, however, the owner fore
goes the opportunity of profitable EN-.
ployment for himself and his teams
which he would have If he logged the
material and sold 1t after hauling It
o the mill or shipping point.
Unless restricted by the terms of