46 NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL TIMBER SALES. 



When the plan of marking is followed, standing timber must be 

 marked "U. S." near the ground, so that every stump will show the 

 mark. Where snow may conceal the marking from the cutters, each 

 tree must also be marked at a point several feet from the ground. 



On thick-barked trees where chopping through to the wood means 

 considerable extra work and expense, and where cutting is to take 

 place in the near future, the bark may be blazed and stamped "U. S." 

 Usually it is inadvisable to mark timber a long tune in advance of 

 cutting, but where this is necessary for any reason, officers should cut 

 through to and stamp the wood plainly. The marking must be such 

 that the stamp will be distinct at the time of cutting, and as long after 

 cutting as is necessary for inspection. 



Timber should be marked when it can be done most economically ; 

 the work will not, however, be done too far in advance and the cut-over 

 area will be watched for mistakes. In no case should timber be 

 marked outside the area designated in the contract. In a sale for a 

 definite amount, only timber enough to yield that amount will be 

 marked. The marking will be done thoroughly, and no large groups 

 of mature trees will be left on the area unless so isolated that the pur- 

 chaser can not reasonably be required to log them. 



The system of marking and the proportion of the timber to be cut 



should be carefully explained to purchasers by mark- 

 pi2chSe? ratIon to ing sample areas before a sale is consummated. While 



the desires of purchasers must be very carefully con- 

 sidered, the silyicultural needs of the Forest must take precedence 

 over other considerations, even at a sacrifice in present stumpage 

 rates. 



Since the marking of green timber is the most important part of 



any sale, it is much better to demonstrate on the ground to the Forest 



officers who will do the work how the marking should be done than 



to send out written instructions and criticize the work after it is done. 



Whenever possible in large sales, a marking board, consisting of the 



district forester, the chief of silviculture, and the For- 

 b^rd! 10 * marking est supervisor, will mark representative areas and 



establish the marking policy to be followed in the 

 sale. The action of the board will be binding upon Forest officers 

 doing the marking, and no change will be made in the system without 

 referring the matter to the district forester. 



Personal marking by supervisors and deputies will take precedence 



over ordinary routine, and supervisors or deputies 

 vteoS? 1118 by super " wu "l assist in the first marking in important sales. 



Supervisors, either personally or through their depu- 

 uties, are expected to check the work of marking frequently enough 

 to make sure that it is being properly done. 



Every advantage will be taken of the services of men with techni- 

 cal training, but men without timber-sale experience, 

 fof mart5Sg ed men even if technically trained, will not be placed in 



charge of important marking projects. 

 The following instructions for marking are general, and can not 



all be applied in any specific case. Modified to meet 

 tiSS eral instruc " local conditions, they will serve as a basis for marking 



in all sales and in administrative and free use. The 

 district forester may wherever advisable supplement these instruc- 

 tions with detailed instructions for the types in the district. 



