FELLING AND LOG-MAKING 95 



The tendency in all sections is to reduce the height of stump 

 on sound timber to the lowest point practicable. It is not 

 profitable to cut a low stump on most species when the butt is 

 rotten, because a large portion of it may be trimmed off and 

 thrown away during the process of manufacture. Saws cannot 

 be kept as sharp on very low stumps as on those of medium height 

 since grit dulls the saw, especially in a sandy soil. Sawyers 

 cutting very low stumps cannot cut as much timber per day 

 because the work is more fatiguing. The decrease in the cut 

 of a saw crew due to low stumps may reach 1 5 per cent in medium- 

 sized timber. 



The general rule on the National Forests is that the stumps 

 shall not exceed 18 inches in height. Lower stumps may be 

 required at the discretion of the inspectors. The stump height 

 on slopes should be determined at the contour line. 



LOG-MAKING 



Utilization of the Tree. — The bole is the most valuable portion 

 of the tree except in such instances as the curly stumps of black 

 walnut and other species which are highly esteemed for cabinet 

 work. In many localities rough tops and limbs are cut to a 

 diameter of from 2 to 4 inches for firewood, charcoal burning and 

 destructive distillation. Faggots are not utilized to any extent 

 in this country. 



The portion of the bole utihzed is influenced by the location 

 of the timber with reference both to the manufacturing plant 

 and to markets. The lumberman with accessible timber may be 

 able to handle low-grade logs which an operator with a less 

 favorable location could not handle profitably. 



The transportation charge for carrying lumber to markets 

 is also a powerful factor in determining the extent of utilization, 

 inasmuch as all grades of a given species pay the same rate and 

 where the latter is high, low grades cannot be shipped at a profit. 

 An interesting example is that of the shortleaf and longleaf 

 pines of the South. Both species are usually sold at the same 

 price f.o.b. at a given mill, but since longleaf weighs more per 



