237 



HARVESTING THE SMALL FOREST 



ARTHUR M. SOWDER 



Harvesting the woodland crop, or 

 logging, is the last stage in the pro- 

 duction of the crop. It is like the final 

 step in producing potatoes or doing 

 farm chores, such as milking. A farmer 

 does not sell his potatoes while they 

 are in the ground or the milk while it 

 is in the cow. By doing his own harvest- 

 ing or chores, he is selling his services. 



In the South, for instance, about 

 one-half the value of some harvested 

 forest products, such as sawlogs, is rep- 

 resented by the standing tree hence 

 one-half comes about through logging 

 and hauling. In other words, harvest- 

 ing doubles the sawlog returns from 

 the woodlands. 



Owners of small woods who do their 

 own logging are apt to practice good 

 forestry. When one does his own log- 

 ging according to a sound plan, he will 

 exercise more care to get better utili- 

 zation, avoid damage to future crop 

 trees, leave the area in better shape for 

 forthcoming operations, and more 

 than likely protect his woodland from 

 fire, insects, and diseases. 



Logging generally can be done in 

 slack seasons. Often it is a welcome 

 change from other farm work. It can 

 fit in nicely with a balanced farm pro- 

 gram. Usually winter is the best season 

 for the woods work : Snow, frost, and 

 frozen ground facilitate skidding and 

 hauling, although they increase the ac- 

 cident rate and, for products that must 

 be peeled, cold is a handicap. 



Logging is hard work, but it is sur- 

 prising how some jobs can be made 

 easier by planning, how quickly experi- 

 ence makes one more efficient in the 

 use of tools and equipment, and how 

 much effort is saved by keeping tools 

 sharp. In fact, farmers often say that 

 after a day or two in the woods they 

 enjoy the work. The hardest part is 

 to get started and, after starting, to 

 remember that experienced woods 

 workers usually take breathers, or rest 



periods, equal to 5 percent of the work- 

 day. 



Before he starts his tree harvest, the 

 owner should know the outlets for the 

 crop. If they are to be marketed, the 

 products should be contracted for by 

 written agreement. It is worth while to 

 inquire about the products in demand, 

 and study the logging of those products 

 as to quantity and quality, with the 

 equipment available. Also, before start- 

 ing, it is well to mark the trees to be 

 cut with paint, crayon, or lime spots. 

 In marking, the owner should bear in 

 mind that it usually costs more per 

 cord or per thousand board feet to log 

 small trees than it does large ones, but 

 in time the owner will learn which are 

 the profitable tree sizes and species and 

 how long it takes trees to grow to a 

 profitable logging size. It is a good idea 

 likewise to consult a local forester or 

 the county agent. They will know local 

 conditions and markets and be able to 

 advise on the practicability of doing 

 the logging one's self or letting it out 

 on contract. If any help is to be hired, 

 they can give good advice on the going 

 wages, the phases of the work that 

 have been declared too hazardous for 

 under-age workers, and the workmen's 

 compensation requirements. 



Mechanical equipment, such as 

 power saws, wood splitters, and tree 

 planters, has helped make some of the 

 work easier. 



As with other types of farm work, 

 scarcity of help has led to increased 

 mechanization in woodland operations 

 in order to maintain production. In 

 logging, however, mechanization has 

 not materially lowered the production 

 costs on the smaller operations. 



Many small operators have aban- 

 doned the use of the power chain saw, 

 because they have found it more ex- 

 pensive than hand tools. The two-man 

 gas saw is too costly to use on inter- 

 mittent, low-production jobs in the 



