MARKETING TIMBER FROM FARM WOODLANDS 137 



larly situated the operation presents a sufficiently attractive proposition 

 to enable the owners to secure good prices. 



These methods have all been practiced with varying success, depend- 

 ing upon the ability of the farmer in handling timber and in the honesty 

 of the timber buyer. The difficulty is that the farmer who, as a rule, 

 knows little about the value of timber is pitted against the timber buyer, 

 an expert in such matters, with the result that the farmer generally gets 

 the little end of the bargain and is inclined to look upon all timber 

 buyers with suspicion. 



The farmer owns the land and is in an excellent position to practice 

 forestry if he can be properly directed. The timber buyer trades upon 

 the ignorance of the farmer as to timber values and methods of han- 

 dling timber. The farmer needs, and often seeks, the help of the for- 

 ester, while the timber operator is apt to avoid the forester and attempt 

 to discredit him to the farmer, with whom he may be negotiating. 



There should be a common ground upon which the forester can stand 

 and render the greatest service to both. It is only in this way that the 

 practice of forestry on farm woodlands and the marketing of timber 

 can be placed upon a satisfactory basis. 



Taking the farmer with the average farm of 138 acres, of which 30 

 acres is wooded (I am using the census figures) ;• this woodland repre- 

 sents that portion of the farm which, in the farmer's opinion, is of the 

 least vaUie and which he regards as unfit for anything else. He looks 

 upon it as a source of firewood, fencing, and occasionally some saw 

 logs for building purposes, but does not regard it as a productive area 

 in the sense that he does the tilled portion of the farm. It is true that 

 at times it has helped him out with ready cash, often at the expense of 

 sadly depleting the woodland, but these occasions are so rare in the 

 experience of the individual farmer that it fails to impress him with 

 the idea that the woodland can be handled as a constantly producing 

 portion of the farm. 



In order to reach the farmer with the principles and practices of 

 forestry, he must be shown practical results and be convinced upon his 

 own land under existing conditions just how the forester can benefit 

 him. 



Much is being done these days through the county agents, and these 

 men are in a position to render valuable service to the forester as ad- 

 vance agents. They have to a large measure the confidence of the 

 farmer and the opportunity to start him to thinking of the possibilities 

 of handling his woodland with a view to sustained vield. 



