BUSINESS PRINCIPLES INVOLVED. 471 



middleman, yet he should be thoroughly acquainted with the 

 prices which prevail in the distant principal market, as well as 

 those of the local market. 



The generally isolated residence of forest officials would be 

 an insurmountable obstacle in the way of his meeting such 

 demands, were he not to avail himself of the assistance which is 

 open to every trader. This consists in the public press and in 

 consular reports from the chief timber-markets. As regards 

 pamphlets dealing with the timber-trade, some are edited and 

 distributed by the chief forest officials in certain States ; others 

 are private undertakings, for instance, Das Handalsblatt fi'ir 

 Walderzeugnisse, the Berlin Centnilblatt fi'ir Holzindustrie, 

 Revue dcs Eaux et Forets, The London Timber Trades 

 Journal, &c. 



Agents employed by forest owners and State consulates would 

 do great service if they would publish, not merely periodic 

 reports, but any rapid changes in the markets. The future can 

 only decide as to the extent to which forest owners, like other 

 W'holesale producers, can make use of regular travelling agents 

 to offer their produce for sale, and arrange contracts and deal 

 with purchasers, &c. 



It need hardly be remarked that all endeavours which may be 

 made to raise the price of wood (since its fall in 1865) should 

 apply only to timber, for, with exception of a few country 

 districts, it is impossible to rehabilitate firewood in competition 

 with coal. As long, however, as firewood is procurable at a 

 steady and moderate price, it will always find a ready sale. 



Although the fullest attention should be paid by the forester 

 to the general market, he should always endeavour to improve 

 and extend his local market. Wherever industries using wood, 

 such as sawmills, factories for wood-pulp, furniture, carved 

 work, kc. exist, or are to be introduced and extended, provided 

 there is no sylvicultural impediment, they should be energetically 

 supported and assisted. 



5. Tlie Timber-Trade. 



Under present conditions, the assistance of the wood-merchant 

 is, in most cases, indispensable to the forester. No wholesale 



