186 FKLIJNG AND CoXVKHSIOX. 



according to the dillcrfiit kinds of produce, too nmcli detail 

 should not be attempted, so that the accounts may not be too 

 complicated. An exception to this maxim arises only in the 

 case of forests yielding highly Viiluable timber. 



(e) Wages for Barking Trees, Stacking Firewood, &c. — When 

 the rates of payment for felling and converting the timber have 

 been settled, it is also usual to enter in the agreement the 

 rates for barking the trees, also for collecting the timber and 

 stacking the firewood. The latter work usually involves only 

 one rate, but in the case of collecting the timber in temporary 

 forest depots, the greatest differences of rates, compared with 

 the average rates for i)ieces of the same size, may prevail. 



In level land, it is necessary to convey the converted wood 

 only to the nearest road, or timber-depot, and the amount of 

 labour involved is practically the same in all cases for pieces of 

 similar dimensions ; but in mountain-districts there arc, as a 

 rule, great differences in this labour, and it is usual tn iix 

 different rates for each felling-area at difierent altitudes. 



(f) Daily Wages. — There are cases where special demands are 

 made on the ability, experience and care of the workmen, which 

 must be considered in fixing wages, for in these cases it is quite 

 exceptional that the work is at all proportional to the energy ex- 

 pended on it. If in these cases a special agreement cannot 

 be made, daily pay should be given. For constructing the 

 various means of water-transport ; making or repairing roads, 

 slides, bridges ; building substantial huts for workmen ; setting- 

 up fences, and so on, the skill of a carpenter or engineer 

 is required, although it is frequently only :i wood-cutter who 

 does the work, and he should then be paid in proportion to 

 his skill. Only experience can guide the forest manager in 

 settling a fair wage for such work. 



It is clear that the total amount of woodcutters' work in any 

 forest varies according to the locality, the degree of conversion 

 of the timber which is required, and many other circumstances, 

 and that for each forest a special study of these factors is 

 required. The most important of them are : — species of tree ; 

 age and character of the standing crop ; suitability of the wood 

 for special purposes ; the kind of felling employed and nature 

 of the locality ; season of felling ; distance from the wood- 

 cutters' homes and the industry and skill of the woodcutters. 



