454- DISPOSAL AND SALE OF WOOD. 



removal from the felling-area. In districts where the conver- 

 sion and removal of the wood is done partly by the purchaser, 

 two tariffs will be in force, including or excluding the above 

 charges. 



ii. Application of 1he Method of Sale ly Royalty. 



There are districts where, in consequence of admitted rights, 

 almost the whole annual yield of forests in firewood is disposed 

 of by royalt} 7 , either at a full or reduced value ; in other dis- 

 tricts this happens in the case of only a portion of the yield 

 and no further than sheer local necessity requires. In most 

 cases, however, sale at tariff-prices has receded quite into the 

 background, and is confined to : cases of unforeseen distress ; 

 wood-assortments which cannot be sold to the highest 

 bidder ; inferior lots, the sale of which will not repay auction 

 charges, or rare assortments of specified kind and shape ; 

 also, finally, in some districts, to the requirements of the 

 forest ofncials, who are not allowed to bid at auctions. 



In country districts, it is chiefly wood for agricultural 

 requirements, such as bean-sticks, tree-props, etc., which in 

 cases of considerable demand should be sold by royalty, as in 

 this way theft may be prevented. 



It may be imagined, since sale by royalty is at present 

 generally the exception, that the fixation of a correct tariff is 

 a matter of only second-rate importance. This is, however, 

 not the case, for a continual knowledge of the actual value 

 of forest produce is advantageous in many ways. Eoyalties 

 are the best means of deciding the acceptance of offers to 

 purchase wood, or when to knock-down lots to bidders at 

 public auctions ; they afford a means of estimating the value 

 of stolen produce ; they are indispensable in every kind of 

 forest valuation, and in calculating the value of forest rights, 

 damage, sale of forest land, or other similar questions, 

 and finally in calculating budget-estimates and other state- 

 ments. 



Royalties are evidently useful only when they represent the 

 actual momentary local value of wood, i.e., its average market 

 pi ice for the time being. Unless this can be affirmed of them 



