174 The Forest Products Laboratory 



activity. The packing box investigation is of inestimable value. The 

 problems associated with the seasoning of lumber are so far reaching 

 that it in itself is a subject for discussion that would engage attention 

 indefinitely. However, these are problems of the products of the for- 

 ests only. 



There is another field of activity that requires exploitation. It has 

 to do with the prevention of wastes and the use of the unpreventable 

 wastes — if there be any. Many lumbermen believe that the policy of 

 harvesting the mature stands of timber, by the most economical means, 

 at this time or as soon as possible, is proper. The imposition of burden- 

 some restrictions that retard such a pohcy we believe to be uneco- 

 nomical. 



To a degree this is a mechanical problem. Our industry has been 

 classed, and rightfully so, as a mechanically progressive industry. The 

 development has been directed along the lines of labor-saving devices. 

 The success of such development is observed in the sawmill proper, 

 where particularly laborious tasks have been eliminated. However, 

 there remain certain tasks which are particularly laborious in certain 

 portions of our operations, and I will touch upon some of these later. 

 We have, however, as an industry, neglected mechanical develop- 

 ment M^hich tends to reduce waste. 



It is indicated by surveys of some specific branches of lumber 

 production that about one-third of the cubic contents of the tree ulti- 

 mately reaches the form of lumber. Some seven per cent of loss occurs 

 in the form of stumps. Another seventeen per cent occurs in the me- 

 chanical losses of sawdust and shavings. These three items of losses 

 are worthy of attack. 



A survey of a yellow pine operation indicated that there existed 

 a preventable loss of an amount of 450 feet per acre, or approximately 

 two per cent of the original stand of timber on this area. This was 

 preventable by severing the stump at a line six inches above the ground 

 level. A premium was offered the woodsmen who did this cutting to 

 encourage them to reduce this stump height, explaining to them that 

 they too were indirectly interested in the perpetuation of the life of the 

 sawmill institution, and by so doing an additional amount of some 

 300,000 feet of timber might be removed from each section of land cut. 

 This method of cutting is most laborious. Men must crouch in an 

 awkward position. Many of the men objected, in spite of the induce- 



