232 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIE'i Y. 



The trade in low-priced forestry produce is practically killed 

 by cost of transport. The following example may be quoted. 

 A proprietor in Inverness-shire wished to sell several thousand 

 tons of clean birch timber, with a view to replanting a large 

 area with a more valuable timber crop. An order was obtained 

 of 20s. per ton delivered in Dundee, the cost of cutting and 

 putting on rail was estimated at 4s. per ton, but the railway 

 rate of 15s. lod. made it impossible to accept the offer, and the 

 birch still remains standing. 



In Scotland the railway rates vary according to the amount of 

 competition, but on an average they probably amount to a little 

 over id. per ton per mile, to which has to be added the terminal 

 charges, which, on short journeys, often raise the total cost out 

 of proportion to the value of the consignment. According to 

 the figures given in Schlich's Alanual of Forestry, the average 

 cost of transport for timber in England is 2id. per ton per mile, 

 but this is probably an over-estimate. The same authority 

 quotes the following rates for continental railways : — 



Belgium . . -6 pence per ton per mile. 



France . . 7 „ „ „ 



Germany . . -57 ,, ,, „ 



It will be seen from the foregoing statements that the present 

 position is one which calls for immediate attention, and it only 

 remains to consider what steps should be taken to improve the 

 situation. The following suggestions are made with a view to 

 discussion and criticism : — 



1. The support of the home timber merchants should be 



enlisted, and their co-operation obtained in all efforts 

 to raise the price of manufactured home timber. Even 

 if they have to pay more for the standing timber, as 

 they no doubt would, there would be a much larger 

 margin available for profits both to the landowner 

 and merchant. 



2. The most paying markets in this country for foreign 



timber of standard sizes, such as can be produced by 

 country mills without specially elaborate or expensive 

 machinery, should be thoroughly investigated, and 

 every endeavour made to introduce gradually home 

 timber to the consumers who purchase in these 

 markets. There are certain branches in the foreign 



