Barking Oak 225 



It has been carefully estimated that there is a loss of 

 fully 12 per cent, of wood, caused by felling the oak during 

 the barking season. In other words, the proportion of 

 sap wood to the whole tree is about 14 per cent., which, for 

 the majority of purposes to which oak timber is applied, is 

 rendered by the peeling of little or no value. 



We may say, however, that 2 per cent, can be profit- 

 ably utilized, which still leaves us with a considerable 

 loss on the whole tree. 



The average price of the best oak is 2s. per ft., 12 per 

 cent, of which is as nearly as possible 3d. per ft., or 

 1 17s. Qd. per ton of bark to 150 ft. of wood. 



This, with the 2 6s. per ton cost of production, brings 

 the total to 4 3s. Qd., leaving a considerable balance on the 

 wrong side at pre-war prices. 



