THE USE BOOK. 91 



If an approximate diameter limit is recommended, it should 

 not be so low as to include thrifty, young trees, or rapidly grow- 

 ing trees in which the taper is excessive, The cutting limit 

 should always be placed as low as possible for nnrlp.s|rnh]p. 

 species. In some cases only a few trees can be cut safely, to 

 ~a void" danger from windfall or i'nj" r y t n th<* watprsbprl, 



The cutting area. Small sales should usually be made by 

 amount. Large sales should include all the merchantable tim- 

 ber on a given area^ which must be designated by natural 

 boundaries or by blazed lines. In either case, all small, iso- 

 j'ated^bodies_ofjyniber, which if left would not be salable, 

 should be inclujlfid. Only in the most exceptional cases is it 

 desirable to define the boundaries of the cutting area by legal 

 subdivisions, except where it is bounded by patented lands or 

 valid claims. 



When the timber is on a given watershed or slope, the cutting 

 area can be bounded by topographic features, such as ridges and 

 streams. If only part of the timber on a slope or watershed 

 is" wanted, the cutting area should not include only thp most- 

 desirable portion. When successive sales are made from the 

 same compartment, the cutting areas should be contiguous. 



If the cutting area includes claims of any sort, they should 

 be carefully investigated and reported on. Timber on valid 

 claims is always exempted from sale, unless the written consent 

 of the claimant is obtained. Timber on invalid claims may be 

 included in a sale if the examining officer is satisfied he can 

 prove that the claim is invalid, which his report must show 

 conclusively. 



In determining the cutting area for any large sale, small 

 areas which will probably be needed to supply local demands 

 must be excluded by blazed lines. 



Prices. In all sales the stuinpage prices should be based, 

 not upon local custom, but upon the actual value of the timber. 

 This must be determined by a careful study of the quality of 

 the timber and the cost of logging. Timber on a gentle slope 

 ^nd within a mile of a drivable stream may be worth more than 

 twice as much as less accessible timber. If dead timber has 



