Dec. 1939] Marketing of Farm Woodland Products 25 



In the case of the latter, the increase is easily overestimated. Certain 

 species, either because of scarcity of numbers or quality, have at present 

 a high value. As the amount of high-quality timber increases the oppor- 

 tunity for obtaining a premium for it decreases. 



For instance, should all the owners in this area greatly increase the 

 quality of their product, their output would represent such a small part 

 of the total that price would be very little affected, and they too would 

 be assured of a greater income. If, however, we consider all of the United 

 States, or even New England, as producing this high quality, the picture 

 changes. Were such a large area involved, values would probably not 

 remain as high relative to the value of other products. 



Thus, increased income per acre resulting from good management prac- 

 tices seems more likely to come from more complete utilization of timber 

 than from relatively high prices for the top grades of lumber. 



The market for low grade products in the area is limited, making the 

 problem of utilization of material resulting from thinnings and improve- 

 ment cuttings difficult. One outlet is the farmers' fuel supply. There 

 exists also a limited cordwood market which could be supplied pro- 

 vided prices were adjusted to allow for quality. If the whole woodland 

 enterprise is considered, a part of the costs of this type of cordwood oper- 

 ation could properly be charged to woodland improvement from which a 

 future return will be obtained. 



Cooperative Opportunities in the Area 



One reason for the study being made in this particular area and at 

 this particular time was the interest which had been e\'idenced by farm- 

 ers in the region in the possibilities for marketing their forest products 

 cooperatively. In addition to the infonnation on production and prices 

 received over past years, a section of the questionnaire was devoted to 

 finding out whether or not each woodland owner was in favor of the es- 

 tablishment of a cooperative to market forest products, and, if so, if he 

 would follow approved cutting practices. Additional information was 

 secured on the number of horses, oxen, or tractors which he owned in or- 

 der to have some idea of his equipment for carrying on operations in the 

 woods. 



Table 11.- — Attitude of owners of merchantable timber toward the es- 

 tablishment of a cooperative, 1938^ 



Owners with accessible tracts 

 All owners and equipment 



Attitude No. Acreage Quantity No. Acreage Quantity 



Acres M. bd. ft. Acres M. bd. ft. 



Favorable 156 24,853 117,245 41 8,905 35,714 



Unfavorable .... 13 499 3,295 2 270^ 



Indifferent 128 15,690 73,386 12 697 3,791 



Total 297 41,042 193,926 55 9,602 39,775 



^State and federal lands not included in this tabulation. 



^Timber on land classified as poor. 



