96 LOGGING 



thousand feet, in some cases 300 pounds on a given item, the 

 freight charge to market is greater and hence shortleaf can be 

 shipped to more distant markets, or a lower average grade can 

 be manufactured and the same profits secured as in the case of 

 longleaf. 



Crooks, knots, pitch, worm holes and other defects are factors 

 that influence the amount of bole taken. The extent and char- 

 acter of the defects that a log may contain and still be mer- 

 chantable is governed by the species and the use to which the 

 timber is to be put. Chestnut lumber containing many "pin- 

 worm holes" has a market value both for veneer backing and 

 for the manufacture of tanning extract if the timber is otherwise 

 sound. On the other hand, oak with similar defects brings a low 

 price because its physical properties do not fit it for many pur- 

 poses. Defective logs of white pine, yellow poplar and other 

 woods suitable for making high-priced box material may be 

 utihzed because the lumber is cut into short lengths and the 

 unsound portions eliminated, while logs of yellow pine with 

 similar or fewer defects are frequently valueless for this purpose 

 because the wood is heavy, making higher freight charges on the 

 package, and yellow pine crates, when placed in cold storage, 

 taint dairy products, eggs and certain other foodstuffs. 



The amount of bole taken depends on the ultimate use of 

 the timber. This is well illustrated in cutting white oak for 

 rived stave bolts which are split along the line of the medullary 

 rays. Since the timber must be straight-grained and free from 

 knots, only the choicest cuts are taken and a large part of the 

 bole is often left in the forest. 



Market conditions are a potent factor in regulating the mini- 

 mum size and character of timber that can be handled profitably. 

 High-grade logs produce a sufficient percentage of low-grade 

 lumber to supply a dull market, while a brisk demand enables 

 the logger to bring out a large per cent of his inferior material 

 because it can be sold for enough to cover the cost of manufac- 

 ture and yield a small profit. Close utiHzation will not be 

 general until the public is prepared to pay higher prices for 

 lumber. 



