The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-08-03


Woodland owners many times are
confronted with the problem Of when
to sell standing timber and when to
cut II 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
II 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
sect attack at the rapid rate alleged
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 q 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
mt 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 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 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 its
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
designated tract or sold on an acre
age basis. This method has prevailed
over all others, particularly in the
rOugher and less-settled districts. AS
rule II is strongly favored by the
, purchaser because in such transac-
tion his better knowledge of both tim
her yields and values gives him an
: advantage over the average owner.
|
the owner Of a 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 II is very i'm
. portant, in advance of the sale, first
to secure good estimate OF tine qudn-
tlty, quality and unit value of each
: kind of product in the stand; then "a
: 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
= he 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
J erly safeguarded, this becomes one OF
/, he 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
. iety and Misunderstanding attending
sales by log-scale measurement. II
competition is keen, IL is likely that
nearly or quite the full value of the
:. timber will be reached in the bids. BY
u this method, however, the owner fore
e goes the opportunity Of profitable em
y ployment for himself and his teams
i which he would have IL he logged thu
e material and sold 1t after hauling Il
q = the mill or shipping point.
Unless restricted by the terms o.