LOTTING TIMBER. 91 



portunities often present themselves to gain high 

 prices for certain timber, owing to an exceptional 

 demand which does not affect trade generally. Tim- 

 ber may lie or stand in remote districts, which would 

 not attract distant purchasers, and for which publicity 

 would not improve the demand. Terms may be made 

 with local men, without incurring the inevitable ex- 

 penses already referred to. 



In a private sale, however, one quality in the forester 

 is absolutely essential, and that is, a thorough know- 

 ledge of the timber trade and a knowledge of valuing. 

 If he does not possess this knowledge, he will be more 

 or less at the mercy of the purchaser, who in all pro- 

 bability will understand his business well. 



If sale by tender is resorted to, the same knowledge 

 is equally essential, for, before accepting a tender, he 

 must himself know the value. This, however, applies 

 to all the methods named ; the value (not necessarily 

 so accurately assessed) must be given the auctioneer 

 as his reserved or upset price, or the forester will be 

 working in the dark. 



Lotting timber, whether felled or standing, is a 

 matter of much importance, if the full value is to be 

 obtained. The auctioneer possibly may be a better 

 judge of this, as from long experience he has become 

 acquainted with the requirements of the trade ; but 

 the forester, too, must know, and know well, how to 

 best arrange his lots, as to sizes and varieties. As a 

 rule we are of opinion (especially when the sale is a 

 very mixed one) that small lots sell best, as it gives 

 small purchasers a chance, as we have already ex- 

 plained. When, on the other hand, the sale consists 



