148 FARM FORESTRY 



the cleats should be placed every 2 or 3 feet, and with woods 

 like pine and spruce they can be placed much wider apart. 



Poles. — There is a demand for poles in nearly all regions 

 for telephone and telegraph lines and by street railroads and 

 electric power lines. The kinds of wood used for poles will 

 vary in different regions. Usually a strong, light and soft 

 wood is demanded, but use is made of the species that grow 

 in any region, for it is not practical to ship poles any great 

 distance because of their weight. 



The price paid for poles will vary with the species. The 

 value of poles of the same kind of wood will depend largely 

 on the length and condition. Often it will be found possible 

 to secure a greater profit from poles than from sawlogs or 

 ties. A farmer should be able to figure such problems. Poles 

 should be cut according to specifications. Poles are usually 

 classified by 5 foot lengths beginning at 20 feet and running 

 up to 60 or more feet, with a top diameter of .7 inches for the 

 smallest poles. There exists in many regions a good market 

 also for piles. They are used for foundations for wharves, 

 quays, bridges, retaining walls, etc. Converter poles find a 

 ready market near smelter plants. 



Poles and piles should be cut only when there is a mar- 

 ket at hand, for they deteriorate rapidly. If poles cannot be 

 marketed they should be peeled and skidded out of the woods 

 to an open spot where the air circulates freely and rolled on 

 skids so that they will be well off the ground. Poles should 

 not be piled one on top of the other, but should be one layer 

 deep, and they should be laid several inches apart to insure 

 good seasoning. 



Cross-Ties. — Where there is a demand for ties they are 

 a valuable product of the woodlot. They are either hewn out 

 in the woods or the logs are hauled to the sawmill and sawed 

 to proper form and size. There are several grades and sizes 

 of ties, from the highest grades used in the main lines of rail- 

 roads to the small and short ties used in mines. A woodlot 



