Dec. 1939] Marketing of Farm Woodland Products 5 



On White Mountain National Forest land definite cruise data were 

 available by compartments, and those falling within the area were tak- 

 en. The New Hampshire State Forestry Department supplied informa- 

 tion for its properties. 



Wherever such expert estimates were not to be secured, the owner's 

 figure was taken, or if he were not available, his representative or some 

 other person having a knowledge of the property was consulted. Esti- 

 mates obtained in this way were checked by a trained forester who ac- 

 tually went over the woodland. 



Information regarding quantity and quality of merchantable timber 

 vv-as secured from town officials or others familiar with the area and 

 jiroved useful as a check on the data alread}' obtained. 



Base maps used in making this survey were enlargements (scale two 

 inches to the mile) of topographical sheets showing roads, railroads, bod- 

 ies of water, and town lines. On these were located houses and the res- 

 idents' names. These maps were taken into the field and as individuals 

 were interviewed, the approximate boundaries of their woodland were 

 skctch.ed, numbers assigned tliem, and a schedule of information was 

 keyed to the map. Upon completion of the survey, all areas upon whicii 

 there was any appreciable amount of merchantable timber were indicated 

 so that the area upon which estimates were secured was clearly defined. 



The purjiose for which the data were to be used governed the selection 

 of methods. While accuracy within certain limits was held desirable, 

 the variations introduced by vagaries of weather, cutting of timber, and 

 other such unpredictable factors make the most detailed estimate subject 

 to a large probable error. For the purposes of this study a figure cor- 

 i-ect within a considerable range would be a,s useful as one accurate to 

 the last thousand feet. 



Methods of Securing Information on Transportation Charges 



Several sources were used in obtaining estimates of tiiicking charges. 

 Because much of the work is done by truckmen making a business of 

 hauling, there is a tendency for trucking charges to be relatively uniform 

 and definite in a given area. Typical hauling charges were available in 

 the New Hampshire Forest Market Report^ and these were supplement- 

 ed with information secured by personal interviews with haulers oper- 

 ating in the area. In addition to these data some facts were secured re- 

 garding the costs of transporting logs and lumber. Most of these figures 

 were supplied by the White Mountain National Forest and served as a 

 useful check upon charges. 



Methods of Securing Consumption and Price Information 



Several sources of information on demand conditions were used: the 

 surv^ey conducted by George M. Hopkins-; the New Hampshire forest 

 market reports'*; surveys made by the Carroll county agent, aided by 

 farmers ; data from the White Mountain National Forest regarding woocl- 

 using industries in that section; and personal intervie^vs with those fa- 



^Barraclough, K. E., New Hampshire Forest Market Report, Fall, 1937. New Hampshire Ex- 

 tension Circular 204, 1937. 



'Hopkins, George M., Marketing Forest Products in New Hampshire, New Hampshire State 

 Planning and Development Commission, 1938. Mr. Hopkins kindly supplied detailed infor- 

 mation for plants located within an economical range of the area. 



^Barraclough, K. E.. New Hampshire Forest Market Reports, 193S to 1938. 



