476 DISPOSAL AND SALE OF WOOD. 



Whenever large falls of timber result from storms, snow- 

 break, or damage by insects, the sales should be hurried on 

 and the wood cleared rapidly, even if only inferior prices are 

 obtainable ; for the loss by the threatened decay of the wood is, 

 as a rule, greater than that due to a low price for it, whilst 

 danger of further damage by insects is reduced. 



8. Extent of the Sales and Sale-Lots. 



The quantity of wood offered for sale should correspond with 

 the number and position of the purchasers. In well-populated 

 districts, with a fair consumption of wood and to satisfy local 

 demands, under ordinary circumstances, a moderate supply of 

 converted wood, say 600 to 1,200 cubic meters (400 to 800 

 loads) of timber and firewood usually sell better than larger 

 or smaller quantities. In poorly populated districts with a 

 small local demand for wood, and with large quantities of wood 

 for sale and only a few wood-merchants competing, large wood 

 sales are absolutely necessary. Whether in such cases the 

 produce of several ranges, or of several felling-areas, should 

 be sold together, depends on the expected amount of competi- 

 tion. In no case should valuable timber be sold at different 

 times ; it is better that neighbouring communes and even 

 private forest-owners should unite to hold large sales, if their 

 own fall of timber is small. 



It is evident that most large timber-sales in which only large 

 capitalists can compete, are chiefly sales of standing trees by 

 area ; for instance, in West Prussia, sales of 10,000 to 20,000 

 cubic meters (7,000 to 14,000 loads) of standing wood for three 

 or five years are effected. Sales of 5,000 to 6,000 cubic meters 

 (3,500 to 4,000 loads) of converted timber are not rare ; as, for 

 instance, in the forest-ranges of Jachenau, Walchensee, etc., of 

 the Bavarian Alps, also in the case of the enormous masses of 

 wood killed in S. Bavaria by the nun-caterpillar, for which 

 sales of 400,000 and 500,000 cubic meters were held. It is not 

 advisable to hold mixed sales of timber and firewood when 

 chiefly wholesale merchants are competing. 



Similar principles underlie the formation of sale-lots. The 

 amount of competition and the class of traders present will 

 decide their dimensions. The wishes of the public also should 



