FOREST SERVICE. 



381 



These figures show an average stumpage price for 1910 of $2.44, as 

 against $1.98 obtained in 1909. 



The total value of the timber cut under sales as given above is less 

 than the receipts from timber as given on page 10, both because the 

 latter includes the receipts from timber and fire trespass and because 

 payment for timber is required in advance of cutting. 



The following table sliows a considerable increase in the number of 

 purchasers of National Forest timber. This increase is most marked 

 m the large sales, as would be expected from the im[)roved business 

 conditions coupled with the fact noted in last year's report, that the 

 depression then in evidence had caused a decrease in large sales but 

 had not prevented a slight increase in the number of small sales, which 

 are made to mills cutting for local consumj)tion. This class of busi- 

 ness may be regarded as less liable to fluctuation than that made up 

 of operators on a large scale for the general market. 



Number of timber sales. 



In connection with these sales mention may be made of tlie fact 

 that on the Choctawhatchce Forest, in Florida, six permits for tur- 

 pentining operations were approved, which provide for 70,751 cups 

 and will yield to the Government $4,238.50. The extraction of forest 

 products otlier than timber from the National Forests has hitherto 

 been altogether insignificant. If, however, experiments which are 

 now under way shall prove that western pines can be made a com- 

 mercial source of supply of naval stores tiie outlook for the turpen- 

 tine industry will take on a new aspect and another important use of 

 the Forests will have been ojiened. Under conservative methods of 

 turpentining, and when operations are conducted in timber which is 

 soon to bo cut, tliis use can be ])ermitted without danger of the 

 destructiveness which has generally attended the boxing of southern 

 pine forests for turpentine. 



The object of National Forest timber sales is by no means solely 

 the gathering of a harvest which nature has planted and matured. 

 The supply of virgin timber in the United States is the heritage of 

 centuries, and must soon give out unless a new investment is made. 

 Silviculture is the making of such an investment. Most timber sales 



