•1P.8 SALE UF WOOD. 



involve, it is evident thiit every forest owner should strive, by 

 improving' the markets for his produee, to obtain as high a price 

 as possible for it. Even if the forest owner can exert no in- 

 fluence on the general temporary prices of wood, and as regards 

 the sale of his own produce, is fettered by the situation of his 

 forest, the state of the local wood market, and many other con- 

 ditions ; yet the financial results of the sale of his wood, under 

 the given conditions, depend greatly on his skill in managing 

 sales. Much has been already said on this subject in the 

 preceding sections ; it is, however, necessary to discuss, in a 

 general way, the principles and experience of mercantile busi- 

 ness which are most nearly related to the above objects. 



In order to sell wood profitably, a forester must be a trader, 

 and must have the same aptitude for trade as other dealers who 

 sell wares. 



Forest officials entrusted with the sale of produce should 

 either have mercantile experience, or endeavour to acquire it 

 in a certain degree. Exactness in formally carrying out de- 

 partmental orders and routine ^\^ll not suffice here, for this is 

 not by any means all that is needful for a commercial mental 

 outfit. Active and intelligent intercourse with the world, 

 especially in all industrial and mercantile questions, observation 

 of all causes which affect the market for his own produce, 

 persistent endeavours to detect all precursors of trade, to weigh 

 accurately the importance of all intervening occurrences, and to 

 form correct decisions after considering all these circumstances — 

 only habits such as these make a successful trader. 



2. Genuine Goods, and (jood ]Vci(j}it and Measure. 



All solid mercantile success is founded on the genuineness of 

 the goods oil'ered for sale, and on giving the purchasers good 

 weight and measure. Genuine goods arc those which are equal 

 to the description given of them by the seller. Every wood 

 assortment should contain only pieces of wood which are thus 

 correctly classified. Every offer of inferior wood, every conceal- 

 ment of defects and damage in timber, every classification of 

 pieces above their proper class, and so forth, impairs their 

 genuineness. Wood should therefore be always so exposed for 



