162 FIRST BOOK OF FORESTEY 



In most localities farmers still sell their logs commonly 

 '• on the stump," i.e., in the woods. This is rarely a good 

 plan, as the buyer's workmen care too little for the woods, 

 damage trees in dragging, and cut too much young growth 

 that they may get as near as possible to the logs with 

 sled or wagon. Selling at the mill is better. Some men 

 have their logs cut on shares, and then haul and sell the 

 lumber to the neighbormg retail lumber yard. This is 

 the right way, but unfortunately the retailer is too often 

 disposed to take advantage of the farmer in grading 

 and price, preferring generally to buy of the wholesale 

 dealer rather than get his goods in small lots from his 

 neighbors. 



This is avoided in some localities where farmers coop- 

 erate and run a small mill of then" own, using one or two 

 tlu-eshing engines for power and •' swapping work " as in 

 threshing time. In this way a number of farmers cut 

 each year a large amount of lumber, which, after season- 

 ing in the pile one or even more years, is readil}' taken 

 by some wholesale merchant at much better prices than 

 can usually be secured from the retailer. In addition, 

 this method always supplies the neighborhood with good 

 seasoned material for home use. 



The resrular lumberinij: in tlie remote, unsettled forests 

 of our country is carried on, of course, on a much larger 

 scale. In such work camps have to be built, comprising 

 cook's shanty, men's quarters, barn, smithy, office, and 



