PROFITABLY DISPOSING OF HOME-GROWN TIMBER. 151 



to L.1000. It is unquestionably the mode by "which large quantities 

 of growing wood can be most profitably disposed of, whether in one 

 or more lots, and especially when it requires to be manufactured 

 before removal. 



For lots of wind-blown or standing trees, where the whole are to be 

 cut, the felling should be done by the purchaser. Before the sale 

 it is only necessary to have the trees counted and classified (they 

 are sometimes numbered, but this is not essential). As soon as the 

 tender is accepted and the payments arranged, the wood settled for 

 should be at the purchaser's risk. Two years ago the writer sold a 

 lot of Scots fir and larch for upwards of L.800, and the expense of 

 counting and classifying only amounted to 10s. for the whole. In 

 the case of thinnings, the work requires care, so that the most thriv- 

 ing trees may be left to grow, and the expenses of preparing for sale 

 are therefore rather more, as it is necessary that the trees should be 

 numbered as well as classified. In classifying, three classes are gene- 

 rally adopted, viz., timbers, spars, and props. In some districts a given 

 size for each of the classes is recognised, a plan which should be uni- 

 versally adopted. It often occurs that the exposer, or those acting for 

 him, makes three classes, independent of recognised sizes. In such a 

 case, it is best to put beside the number on the intermediate class a x 

 or other distinctive mark. This is a simple and effective method, and 

 by adopting it the classes are easily ascertained. Thinnings, though 

 sold standing, shordd be cut off the roots at the expense of the seller, 

 the purchaser cross-cutting and snedding.* Snedding is often done 

 along with the cutting, but the purchaser sometimes objects that it 

 is not rightly done. There is often good cause for this objection, as 

 it is almost impossible to get a tree properly sned until it is turned, 

 and this can be most easily done after the tree is cross-cut ; indeed, 

 some heavy trees can scarcely be turned until they are cross-cut. 

 The cutting off the roots should be done by the exposer, to insure its 

 being done carefully ; but it is not necessary, as some allege, that it 

 should be done by day's wages. On the contrary, it can be done as 

 carefully and more economically by contract. My practice is to let 

 all the cutting by contract to some of the workmen employed 

 on the estate. This is generally done at from 5s. 6d. to 10s. per 

 100 trees, or at about lOd. per 100 cubic feet. Of course there 

 are exceptions to this, as when the thinnings are growing amongst 

 hardwood trees, and special care is required in the cutting. In such 



* This Scotch expression corresponds to the German schneiden, to prune or 

 amputate. — Ei>. 



