Show Iii i LEARN OF MARKET CONDITIONS BEFORE DISPOSING OF TIMBER Prepared by tho the United States State Department of Agriculture Woodland owners many times are confronted with the problem of when to sell standing timber and when to cut It for use on the farm Experience has Ims demonstrated that In Inome some ome localities It unquestionably pays the he farmer better at nt all aU times to sell particularly the more valuable kinds of ot wood For example In the central hardwood region farmers sell their select yellow poplar trees profitably and with the money bu buy and haul back to the farm for distances of df from four Cour to eight miles southern pine gilding siding sid gild ing for their houses and barns On the other hand there are too often Instances where one finds choice white whiteoak whiteoak oak of ot the best quality suitable for veneer neer or furniture stock sawed sa up Into posts for the farm Keep In Touch With Market It would be well for the owner to keep In touch with market conditions BO so he may market marlet his product to the best advantage With rarely an nn exception exception exception ex ex- the timber Is not dying decayIng decaying decaying decay decay- ing or going back by Iy fungus or Insect insect in In- sect attack at nt the rapid rate alleged by buyers who obviously desire to buy as ns cheaply rs possible Unless It Is It is increasing yearly In volume and value alue Cutting during the early period of growth says the United States Department Department Department De De- De- De of Agriculture often represents represents represents a n real sacrifice in financial re re- re- re turns The approximate age at which trees should be cut In order to obtain the highest returns a year ear 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 worl Is least pressing many farmers find It profitable profitable profit profit- able to turn their attention to estimatIng estimating ing measuring cutting marketing and selling their timber Spare help and time to supervise the work make male the winter n a favorable fa season for foz this ItIs It ItIs Itis Is easier to haul logs on the snow than over OYEr ordinary roads and the logs are le less tess liable than at nt any other time of ot the year to deteriorate quickly ly through attacks of insects or fungi Best Method of Selling The choice of methods of selling depends de de- depends largely largel upon the kind of ot timber and the owners owner's knowledge of its value alue his past experience and amI the condition of the market Timber pro products products prod prod- 1 are sold either in the standing tree or in a n more or less roughly manufactured manufactured manufactured man man- condition Except when f Ml sold old 1 b by the lot or lump sales are based upon a n measure by 10 log scale or lumber tally taUy or upon Individual count of or units of designated size or char char- acter Timber sold by the lot boundary or tract is either lumped off oft to Include a designated tract or sold on an nn acre acre- age basi basis This method has prevailed over all others particularly In the rougher f and settled less-settled districts Asa As As' a n rule It is strongly favored ored by the purchaser because In such a transaction transaction tion his better knowledge of both timber tim tim- her ber yields and values gives him an advantage over the average owner Many an examples of the sacrifice by bythe bythe bythe the owner of ot n a large share of the value of ot the timber can be found In nearly any wooded region On account account ac nc- ac- ac count of greater competition among purchasers and a n better understanding on the part of ot the owners of ot timber values mInes sales of ot standing timber by bythe bythe bythe the lot or lump are now being made with better profit than formerly In using this method It is very important Im- Im In advance of the sale first to secure a good estimate of Y the quantity quantity quantity quan quan- quality and unit value of ot each kind of ot product in the stand then to get bids from ns as many buyers as ns possible and finally to have an nn agreement clearl clearly specifying th the restrictions restrictions restrictions re re- re- re In regard to the manner and amount of or cutting so as not to Impair the producing power of the forest The sale may include only trees above S 0 r Logging Ones One's Own Timber Gives Profitable Employment to Farmer F-armer and His Hla Team Teams a specified minimum diameter or such trees as ns have been previously marked by the owner for cutting When properly properly properly prop prop- erly safeguarded this becomes one of ot the safest and most satisfactory of ot all methods of ot selling and should receive full consideration when sales are con con- Place Restrictions Selling by lump Jump eliminates the anxiety anxiety lety and misunderstandings attending sales by lIy scale log measurement If It competition is keen it is likely that nearly or quite the full fuU value of or the timber will be reached In the bids By Dy this me method however the owner foregoes foregoes foregoes fore fore- goes the opportunity of or profitable employment employment em em- for himself and his teams which he would have If he logged th the material and sold it after hauling It to the mill or shipping point Unless restricted by the terms of or orthe the agreement the buyer usually cuts very closely Selling by the lot Jot is therefore a good method to use where the owner Intends to clear the land for other uses But If It the land is to tobe tobe tobe be kept in timber he the owner should include provisions In the contract of or sale to retain the young vigorous growing timber and provide for a future fu tu- fu- fu ture tare crop The TIle Importance of ot care In cutting on account of or Its effect upon succeeding growth and production of ot the stand can hardly be overstated o |