NOTES. 



419 



P. 22. Proportion of Wood consumed for Necessities. — In 



this connection it would liave been proper to point out that 

 this consumption refers to the net wood product. The un- 

 avoidable very large waste, which occurs in the shaping of the 

 raw material for use, and which in most cases is a total loss, 

 amounts to almost 50 per cent, — that is to say, of the cubic 

 contents of a round average log only half the wood falls from 

 the saw in useful size, the balance being turned into sawdust, 

 slabs, edgings, etc., which only under special conditions can 

 be made useful. In addition, a large amount of wood in the 

 shape of top and branches is left in the woods unused, unless 

 a dense population or special industrial development makes its 

 use possible and profitable ; this loss may amount to another 

 20-30 per cent, so that of the wood of a forest-grown tree often 

 not more than 20 to 30 per cent appears in useful shape. 



The following table shows how, in the usual mill practice, 

 the loss varies with the size of material, and, at the same time, 

 the value per cubic foot of forest-grown material increases 

 with the size of log, a financial argument against the cutting 

 of the smaller trees and also an economic argument for the 

 urgency of devising uses for the mill waste and forest waste. 

 Much of this waste can be utilized, but is usually thrown 

 aside through ignorance of its value, or lack of handling 

 facilities. 



