206 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



instances in Germany, Scotch pine stands are thinned 

 as early as at 12 years. Unless, however, there is a mar- 

 ket for very small sapling wood for fuel, a very early 

 thinning would bring no return whatever. The general 

 rule is that thinnings should begin as soon as returns 

 from the sale of the material covers the cost of the 

 operation. 



In most cases it will not pay to make thinnings in- 

 volving an actual outlay. There are millions of acres of 

 second-growth, even-aged timber in this country which 

 need thinning, and need it badly, but are so situated with 

 reference to the market that the product of the thinnings 

 could not be disposed of at all. In the better popu- 

 lated districts, where there is a market for fuel, thin- 

 nings may often be made without loss, even at an early 

 period in the stand's life. 



Often a farmer is able to spend some of his own time 

 or that of his regular employees in such work, without 

 sacrifice to other work, and hence without a real loss. 

 An owner may have in charge of his property a forest 

 ranger who can devote part of his time to thinnings with- 

 out interfering with his main work. Under such cir- 

 cumstances it certainly pays to make early thinnings, even 

 before the product is salable. Therefore a rule based on 

 market conditions does not answer the question as to 

 when thinnings should be begun. 



In some instances when the prospective value of the 

 timber is large, it will pay to make thinnings, even if this 

 entails an actual outlay of money. When such thinnings 



