

WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 395 



of a cord passing through a pulley, which the operator pulls. When 

 pulled sharply, the cutting blades are brought together, and when a 

 small branch is placed between them it then cuts it. 



SECTION 10. The Disposing of Timber. 



There are three ways of selling timber namely, by private bargain, 

 by tender, and by public auction, all of which have their advantages, 

 according to the amount of timber for sale. 



Selling by private bargain should be done only where there is but a 

 small quantity to be disposed of, unless a price per foot be agreed upon 

 and every tree measured. This is a very safe system with measurable 

 timber ; but with small thinnings, or what may be called not measurable 

 timber, these often sell to the best advantage by public auction, as there 

 is generally a good competition amongst farmers and others for such 

 sizes for fencing and other purposes. 



When there is a large amount of timber to dispose of, it may be best 

 in some instances to offer it by auction ; but this may not answer the pur- 

 pose well where the district is out of the way and inaccessible, which 

 may keep timber-merchants from becoming purchasers. 



Timber-merchants are very cautious about running risks, and they 

 are very fond of reaping good profits, so that in disposing of timber a 

 forester requires to be a good judge of its value, and the way in which 

 to dispose of it. 



The best time to dispose of all thinnings from which the bark is not 

 to be removed is in the autumn and winter months. 



Those which are to be barked such as the oak and larch must of 

 course be cut in spring ; and if to be sold standing, should be disposed 

 of in February and March. 



In cutting and felling the trees in plantations of large extent, it will 

 be of advantage for the forester to mark the thinnings and then have 

 the felling done by contract ; and an agreement should be drawn out 

 and signed by the contracting parties, containing the specifications of the 

 work to be done which should state the way in which the trees are to 

 be cut, dressed, and lotted, and the length of time specified for the com- 

 pletion of the work. The mode of cutting and lotting must be guided 

 by the size of the thinnings. As a rule, I prefer throwing all trees with 

 the cross-cut saw that stand six inches in diameter, and any other trees 

 that may be under that size with the axe. Previous to felling a tree 

 with the saw, it should be slightly notched in with the axe on the side 

 to which it is to fall. 



