•l-7(l SALE OK WOOD. 



the price of the better class of firewood ; also, where poles from 

 thinnings are in a similar condition, it is better not to classify 

 them as timber. In slack times it is a matter of ordinary 

 prudence to reduce to the utmost the cost of conversion of 

 inferior material. Purchasers of such stuft" will convert it more 

 cheaply and more in accordance with their own wishes than 

 forest officials. 



In converting his trees, the forester should always be guided, 

 as far as general rules will allow, by the wishes of purchasers. 

 Whenever there is a generally expressed desire for any change in 

 the details of the wood-assortments, as is often the case, the 

 forester should be ready to meet the purchasers' wishes ; 

 they are usually the expression of an actual technical require- 

 ment. 



When, for instance, there is a desire that stacked wood 

 should be more than a yard long, or that butts should be 

 longer than is usual in the locality, the question should be 

 carefully considered, and it often happens that it is in con- 

 sequence of a new demand for timber, and then the wood should 

 in future be converted accordingly. 



4. lVood-M((rhcts. 



A few decades ago, before the present world-wide means of 

 communication had been established, each forest had its own 

 local purchasers, its own more or less limited local market to 

 which each forest range was practically confined. Only forests 

 which were favourably situated as regards water-carriage were 

 accessible to traders of the world-market, to which most of the 

 best timber was floated. INIatters have changed in this respect, 

 and at present almost every forest range has a share in the 

 world-market, and there are few forests too remote to feel its 

 fluctuations. Although the local market has not entirely lost its 

 importance in certain forest districts, yet, especially as regards 

 timber, it is the world-market which regulates prices. Under 

 these circumstances, the really enterprising forester must know 

 not only his local market, but should also keep in view all 

 the movements and changes of the world-market ; although ho 

 may be only indirectly connected witli the latter through the 



