SOME PROBLEMS IN APPALACHIAN TIMBER APPRAISAL 331 



this problem that the experience and aptitude of the cruiser counts. 

 In regard to hidden defect, the most disconcerting factor to be con- 

 sidered is old fire damage and subsequent insect and fungus deterio- 

 ration. No grade volume table can be adjusted adequately to 

 cover deterioration in quahty from these causes ; everything depends 

 upon the judgment and capacity of the lumberman-appraiser and the 

 cruisers. In addition to fire injury there are certain other classes of 

 hidden defects which must be carefully watched for. The chief one 

 is ring shake, the effect of which — in case there are several concentric 

 shakes, the outer one near the sapwood — is to reduce to "cull" the 

 grade of a large portion of the lumber in the tree so aft'ected. In the 

 butt logs of oak, much of the shaky lumber would grade as No. 1 

 common and better, and have a value as lumber more than twice as 

 high as in the form of cull. The three chief causes of shake seem to be : 

 swaying of trees on sites exposed to wind ; winter freezing due to the 

 peculiar climatic conditions of certain hollows and slopes where heavy 

 freezing takes place while the wood is very wet; and the swaying of 

 ice-laden trees in a sleet storm. There is no known means of judging 

 whether the site conditions of a stand expose it to shake from either 

 freezing or wind exposure. Old sleet damage, which is very prevalent 

 in the Appalachian forests, can usually be detected, however, by muti- 

 lated crowns and by bowed trees of large size which are well aged. 

 Evidences of this character require careful consideration on the part 

 of the appraiser since they are almost sure indications of sleet damage 

 and the frequently accompanying ring shake. Another accompaniment 

 of sleet damage is worminess, the worms gaining free entrance through 

 the extensive breakage of large limbs. Deterioration both from sleet 

 and from frost may be restricted to a narrow belt, the timber both 

 above and below being of normal quality. 



Appraisal of Small Trees 



Some tracts belonging to operating companies have been con- 

 sidered for purchase subject to the rights of the owners to complete 

 the removal of the timber above a specified diameter over the uncut 

 portion of the tract. In cases where the small trees, or some of the 

 small trees which are not to be cut, are of merchantable size, it is 

 necessary to appraise them. The determination of the relative costs. 

 of operating this small timber (as the basal step for appraisal) is so 



