MARKET VALUES OF TIMBERS. 



77 



The shading factor and the resulting damage to crops are usually 

 greater with north-south windbreaks than with east-west ones. 



MARKET VALUES OF TIMBERS. 



If the value of the timber in the windbreak is to be compared with 

 the value of field crops as based on market prices, the cost of harvest- 

 ing the crops need not be considered, since it may be assumed that the 

 cost is approximately the same for forest and field crops. Since, 

 however, the major portion of the forest crop, and particularly posts, 

 will be utilized on the farm, the expense of hauling these forest 

 products to market would be saved. 



Cottonwood or other saw stuff may usually be disposed of at a net 

 stump age price. The stump age value of $10 per M, b. m., which has 

 been placed upon cottonwood lumber is probably too low to represent 

 fairly a comparison with field crops; but since this price may not 

 always be obtained it is pei'haps the safest to use. The value placed 

 upon cottonwood and maple fuel ($2 per cord) is also decidedly low 

 when it is considered that a large share of the material will be used 

 on the farm without the expense of a long haul. 



In assigning values to fence posts of the different species it has been 

 attempted to construct a just scale based upon the strength and dura- 

 bility of each and to compare the native-grown products with the 

 imported products, such as cedar, which are sold in the lumber yards. 

 The figures given in Table 16 may be a trifle high for Iowa and Min- 

 nesota, where native timber is close at hand, but they are correspond- 

 ingly low for the treeless States of Kansas and Nebraska. 



TABLE 16. -Average values for fence posts Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. 



The posts have been classified according to the following specifica- 

 tions: Class I Length, 7 feet; 4 inches at small end, round, or 3J 

 quartered; free from crooks. Class II Length, 7 feet; 3 niches at 

 small end if straight, or proportionately larger if moderately crooked ; 

 bad crooks culled to thirds. Class III Length, 7 feet; 2 inches at 

 small end if straight, or proportionately larger if crooked. Class IV 

 (stakes) Length, 5 feet ; 14- inches at small end ; free from bad crooks 

 which would prevent driving. 



