SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— K*. 427 



The main classes of produce are : 



(1) Poles 1 J to 5 in. at the butt. 



The market for these must be found locally, chiefly in rustic work, 

 fencing stakes, hurdles and small turnery. 



(2) Poles 5 to 8 in. at butt. 



These are suitable for pit-props, fender poles, telephone poles and 

 stay-props, and turnery. 



(3) Poles over 8 in. diameter but not mature timber. 



Can be used for large pit-props, contractors' piles, and fencing 

 material, or sold to merchants for conversion to general uses. 



(4) Mature timber. 



Is sold to timber merchants, either standing, by estimated measure 

 and an agreed price for the whole wood, or by the cubic foot when 

 felled. 



(5) Coppice. 



This is sold by the acre, chestnut for fencing, hazel, ash and birch 

 for pea and bean sticks, etc. 



(6) Lop and top. 



These are trimmings from felled trees, and sold either by the cord 



or by the ton, chiefly for firewood. 



There is a market for all these classes, which will improve as supplies 



increase and marketing becomes more orderly. Local Government 



authorities, railways and other large corporations could help by purchasing 



home-grown timber more often. 



Mr. John T. Smith. — The utilisation of certain British softwoods. 



Substantial increase in knowledge of forestry in Great Britain and striking 

 decline in consumption of home timber. 



Information regarding proportion of home timber used in this country. 



References to the literature now available on the subject. 



Attenuated condition of British woodlands. 



Possibility of using the existing timber trade organisation of the United 

 Kingdom for marketing home timber. Parallel to be found in North 

 European countries. 



Utilisation of individual species, with notes upon : 



1 . Scots pine. 



2. Norway and Sitka spruce. 



3. Larch. 



4. Douglas fir. 



5. Others. 



Bibliography. 



Mr. J. W. G. Agate. — The uses and working qualities of British hard- 

 woods. 



Mr. G. H. Donald. — The effects of pruning on the quality of timber. 



An account of the investigation in progress at the Forest Products Re- 

 search Laboratory, Princes Risborough, on the practical and economic 

 effects of pruning forest trees. Deals briefly with the reason why artificial 

 pruning is believed necessary, and then describes the examination of actual 



