172 TIMBER VALUATION 



logs would give No. i and 2 grade which may have a limited num- 

 ber of defects if more than 6 inches wide. The remaining 70 per 

 cent of the log was only fit for common lumber from which no clear 

 stuff was obtainable except in short lengths and narrow widths. 

 Consequently finish and flooring do not give close utilization or 

 high net returns. 



Softwood dimension lumber is really the first group which 

 uses a reasonably large proportion of the log. Thirty per cent is 

 the figure for sugar pine while species Hke Douglas fir and spruce 

 which have very little clear lumber naturally give larger percen- 

 tages if " dimension " or " shop " lumber. Both these grades 

 are essentially the same. Soundness is the desideratum. If the 

 species has stiff wood like spruce, dimension is the best use. If 

 it is weak hke pine it is graded as " shop " and cut up for door or 

 sash stock. 



It is not, however, until the common inch board is reached that 

 the greater part of a log can be thrown nto one use class. " Com- 

 mon " and " boxboards " are the grade names for the knotty 

 lumber which comes from small and top logs and the inside of 

 large logs. Even in such a large species as sugar pine 55 per cent 

 of the average log must go into these grades. Small logs like 

 those of second growth pine yield nothing else. Both hardwood 

 and softwood " common " lumber go mostly into boxes and 

 crates. 



Svmiming up, the grades of lumber which can be obtained from 

 the average log are as foUows; 



Percent 

 Softwood lumber: 



Clear, wide stock 15 



"Dimension" or "shop" 30 



Common and boxboards 55 



Percent 



Hardwood lumber: 



Finish or flooring 30 



Common boards 70 



