THE ECONOMIC DISPOSAL OF CONIFEROUS TIMBER. 255 



For the last assortment, namely siobwood, there is a very 

 good demand, especially for larch. This material consists of 

 young poles taken from thinnings and tops of the older trees. 

 These are cut into lengths of 5, 5^, 6 and sometimes 6^^ feet for 

 fencing posts, and realise from 5d. to yd. each. The usual 

 practice is to peel the stobs made from thinnings, and to quarter 

 the tops of large stems in the sawmill. 



In the process of assorting larch timber, special cases arise 

 in connection with the material over 8 inches on the side. 

 For example, the diameter limits 6, 7 and 9 inches at 

 the small end, already referred to, are fixed in order to 

 maintain the quarter-girth measure — so that a widely-grown 

 tree having a fair taper when measured out to a 3-inch 

 top may be an inch less on the quarter-girth than when taken 

 out to a 6-inch top. As a result of this the volume and 

 therefore price would be greatly reduced in the individual tree 

 and in the wood. 



Another case arises when comparing stems which have been 

 widely grown with close-grown material. In the former case 

 the trees are of the type as shown in Plate XV., A. Fig. i, 

 where they are seen to be slightly rougher and not so 

 cylindrical as stems more closely grown (Plate XV., B. Fig. 2). 

 In addition there are fewer trees per acre, although probably 

 there is a greater volume of saleable timber. A crop in 

 this condition allows of grazing, which in the wood re- 

 presented in Fig. I actually brought in a rental of los. per 

 acre per annum, the land before planting being let as a 

 sheep-grazing at 6d. per acre per annum. Fig. i shows that 

 such a plantation can be profitably underplanted. On the other 

 hand, stems of the type B. Fig. 2 are lighter, more full bodied 

 and form denser crops than the types already described. They 

 produce altogether a better quality of timber, although as a result 

 of the present market conditions they realise less per tree and 

 per cubic foot. The fact should not be overlooked that 

 woods grown close have not the same value for grazing or for 

 underplanting. 



A further point to note is that the cost of felling and logging 

 is considerably more in the case of dense crops, in proportion 

 to the total volume of timber per acre, than in the case 

 of more widely-grown ones. The following example, which 

 is taken from actual measurements and sales, indicates the 



