PROFITABLY DISPOSING OF HOME-GROWN TIMBER. 155 



a fixed rate can be obtained for a given size and quality of wood. 

 In any of these cases the wood should be sold by measurement, — in 

 the case of turners' wood and firewood by weight. On delivery of 

 the wood a note of the measurement or weight, or what is better, a 

 regular invoice, should be forwarded to the purchaser. The strict 

 adoption of this mode prevents difficulties, facilitates business, and 

 is beneficial to all parties. 



All classes of wood should be charged at recognised market rates ; 

 and if any change of price takes place, formal intimation of such 

 change should be made to the purchaser before any wood is charged 

 at the increased rate. Wood sold in this way is generally delivered 

 at the premises of the purchaser, or put on rails at the expense of 

 the exposer. The market price is sometimes considerably curtailed 

 by the expense of delivery and transport. For instance, a wood- 

 manager on a large estate lately sold a lot of heavy Scots firs at 

 lid. per cubic foot put on rails. He had everything done in the 

 most economical way, and on comparing notes it was found that the 

 actual price got for the wood in the rough state was rather below 

 6d. per foot ; while for wood of a smaller size and inferior quality 

 sold by tender, an average of 6|d. per foot was readily obtained in 

 the same district under similar circumstances as to situation, dis- 

 tance from railway station, &c. This result is mentioned to show 

 that although apparently high prices are got for wood when sold in 

 this way, these are often not so in reality. Therefore, before adopt- 

 ing tills mode, it is well to count the cost carefully. Where large 

 quantities of firewood or other rough wood are sold by weight and 

 to be delivered, the cartage should be by contract at a fixed rate per 

 ton. Eailway weights, when taken advantage of, should be binding 

 on all parties. For small lots of fuel or fencing wood, it is not 

 generally considered requisite either to weigh or measure. Fencing 

 wood is generally sold at a rate per dozen, and parties accustomed to 

 sell such lots can easily fix their relative value. In all strictly local 

 transactions, delivery should be given in the plantation for the pur- 

 chaser to remove at his own expense. Some parties consider private 

 bargain the best mode for disposing of all sorts of forest produce ; 

 but the -writer does not recommend it save in exceptional cases, as 

 those indicated. The expenses connected with it are seldom less 

 than 30 per cent., and sometimes as high as 50 per cent., on the 

 gross receipts. 



IV. Manufacture of Wood by the Producer, — The writer cannot 

 report from personal experience, not having had the management of 



