132 



products. On the average farm wood-lot it was found that the propor- 

 tion of the various classes of product obtained were as follows: 



Proportion of 



Per cent average price 



Fuel wood 65.68 .118 



Mine timbers 10.33 .044 



Posts 7.44 .063 



Lumber 8.19 .051 



Cross-ties 3.75 .020 



Veneer logs 3.51 .032 



Piling .78 .005 



Cooperage stock* .32 .002 



Weighted average price 



per lb .335 



It is thus seen that the crop from the farm wood-lot averages 0.335 

 cents per pound. This price is due to the large proportion of low-priced 

 fuel wood. This price is equivalent to $6.70 per ton while the more 

 valuable products bring prices of over $18.00 per ton. The average 

 crop per acre now being harvested is 1415 pounds or about ^ of a ton, 

 worth $4:.?4, or a crop value of nearly $5.00 per acre annually. 



These comparatively low prices per pound as compared with concen- 

 trated food crops are offset by a much lower cost of actual outlay per 

 pound in the production of the timber crop so that the net profit over 

 cash expenses greatly increases the favorable position of this crop in 

 land economy. 



The chief objections urged against actually undertaking to grow 

 timber as a crop are based, not so much on the yields per acre or prices 

 which are possible as on the crop-period or time required, which for 

 private enterprise is often regarded as prohibitive, and which results in 

 the accumulation of interest deemed necessary to return a given per cent 

 on the investment, and of taxes at compound interest. 



For farmers who own wood-lots there are several strong arguments 

 offsetting these factors. In the first place, the wood-lot, unless already 

 badly cut over or nearly ruined by grazing, is often if not usually in 

 position to sustain an annual production approaching the full possible 

 yield of the land in wood crops. It is a going business and, if managed 

 as such, incurs no compound interest charges since each year's expense 

 is met by income from cuttings. This is the ideal condition to maintain, 

 and is exemplified by many wood-lots carefully preserved and cared for, 

 in the southern portion of the state, which continue to yield quantities 

 of high-grade lumber, posts, and other products. 



•Cooperage stock taken as of same vaUio as lumber. 



