152 ON THE DIFFERENT MODES OF 



cases the work is invariably done by day's wages, under supervision. 

 Objections to this mode of selling timber and allowing it to be taken 

 out of the woods by the purchaser are sometimes made, it being 

 alleged that wood merchants' people are more careless with the 

 horses in dragging than the proprietor's, and also that men cutting by 

 contract are more careless than when cutting by the day. Such may 

 be the experience of some who have had unscrupulous parties to deal 

 with, but it is unfair to make a general allegation. "Wood merchants 

 and other people are usually anxious to leave a place in good con- 

 dition so that they may return to it again. For this reason alone 

 — if for no higher — it is their interest to take good care of the stand- 

 ing trees. However, to prevent any risk in the matter, it is best to 

 provide in the conditions of sale that all damaged trees are to be 

 taken by the purchaser and paid for at double or such other pro- 

 hibitive price as may be agreed upon. 



As regards the cutting of trees by contract, there are few practical 

 foresters who have not done a little in their time, and their opinion of 

 others Avill almost invariably be a counterpart of their own practice 

 under similar circumstances. A writer in our Transactions (vol. viL 

 p. 74), states that he has " never found any practical forester or 

 wood manager declare that it was the most satisfactory way of doing 

 the work ;" but many foresters follow this system, for the reason 

 forcibly stated by the same writer — " the cheapness whereby sales 

 conducted in this way can be effected." The argument with which 

 he answers this statement is, that timber merchants generally pay a 

 higher rate of wages for felling, &c, than proprietors do, and that 

 the expense of such work must be made up in some way. If the 

 writer carefully considers the whole matter, he will probably come 

 to the conclusion that wood merchants do not pay a higher rate of 

 wages than they can avoid, and also that it is their interest, as well 

 as that of proprietors, to have the work done as cheaply as possible. 

 On the other hand, it is seldom that work is cheapest or most satis- 

 factorily done at the lowest rate of wages: the contrary is generally 

 the case; and the reason that wood merchants pay higher wages than 

 proprietors is that they have a better class of men — or at least men 

 who work hard and thoroughly understand tbeir craft. 



Sales by tender, if private, are generally made known by circular ; 

 if public, by advertisement or sometimes by schedule, containing, 

 besides the number and class of trees, a printed copy of the condi- 

 tions of sale and blank form of tender. This latter is a commend- 

 able method, whether the sale be public or private, and will become 



