DISPOSING OF HOME-GROWN TIMBER. 



IX. On the most Profitable Mode of disposing of Home-grown Timber. 

 By D. F. M'Kenzie, Forester, Meldrum House. 



Much has been already written upon this subject, but it may not 

 be out of place for me to record my experience. 



The most profitable mode of disposing of home-grown timber is 

 to convert and sell it in the manufactured state. The idea is 

 entertained by many foi'esters and others that it will not pay a 

 proprietor to manufacture his own timber. Some gentlemen may 

 think it out of place to be retailers of timber; but this is no 

 reason why those who wish to make the most of their wood should 

 not do so. I have for many years manufactured timber for a 

 timber merchant, and also for landed proprietors; and in both 

 cases found it to pay. I shall mention some instances of profit 

 realised to my employers, which may be of interest. One wood 

 bought at £3000 gave 57 per cent., another at over £2000 gave 

 85 per cent. I may, however, state that the reason of this very 

 large profit was, that the wood consisted chiefly of larches, which 

 were considered diseased in the heart, but very few trees turned 

 out to be so. Another wood, bought at over £5000, gave 55 per 

 cent. ; one at £1700 gave 34 per cent. ; and a number of smaller 

 purchases realised from 7 to 130 per cent. In these cases the 

 lots were bought either at public auction or by private tender. 

 Only in one case have I known a loss on a lot, and this happened 

 after the memorable 3d October 1860, when the gale upset so 

 many trees that the market was glutted. The loss in this case 

 was 1 per cent. Further, on different occasions, I have exposed 

 standing timber for sale, and the price offered was so very low, 

 according to my estimate, that I was induced to buy machinery, 

 and manufacture the wood, when I realised profits of from 18 to 

 110 per cent, over the value of the highest offer. All these profits 

 are net, after accounting for the wood at the prices offered, and 

 paying all expenses, including interest on capital, invested in 

 machinery. Properly speaking, the producer should realise a 

 greater percentage than the timber merchant, as the latter is 

 generally bound by strict conditions, which hamper him at every 

 turn. He is bound to remove the timber in a given time, and 

 may have to sell it at a disadvantage : so that in buying a wood 

 he calculates on this, and makes his offer accordingly. On the 

 other hand, the producer can leave his timber standing to suit his 



