THE NEW FORESTRY. 1 69 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 VALUING AND SELLING TIMBER. 



Timber Valuers — Standing Timber. — Fallen Timber.— Cordwood. — 

 Conditions of Sale.— Felling Timber. 



SECTION I. — TIMBER VALUERS. 



It will be granted, we think, that unless the owner succeeds 

 in getting his timber valued and sold to advantage he cannot 

 be said to have fully realised the object of growing it. What- 

 ever system of forestry may be adopted the methods of 

 valuing and selling the timber are much the same in all cases, 

 but we strongly advise owners who value the future of their 

 woods to employ either their own or some other competent 

 forester to set out the lots for sale and ascertain the quality of 

 the timber and the number of cubic feet in each lot. The last is 

 the main object, as when the quality is known the vendor may 

 safely hold out for a fair price, and will usually get it. We are 

 here referring to standing timber ; fallen timber can be 

 measured, but more is sold standing than fallen in England 

 at present. 



In setting out standing timber for sale, where a clear cut is 

 not desired, only the trees that ought to- come out should be 

 marked, and these will usually be a portion of the oldest trees, 

 and such as show signs of decay, or such as need to be removed 

 in thinning, the healthiest growing trees being left in a 

 regular way throughout the wood. No one can do this but a 

 forester — and his, employer's interests are his own. This advice 

 is offered because there are persons calling themselves estate 

 and timber valuers, or surveyors and auctioneers, who profess 

 to conduct timber sales to far better advantage than those on 

 the spot can do, and who seek for engagements of that kind 

 over the heads of resident agents and foresters. They set 

 forth to owners of woods that their extensive connection with 

 the timber trade and the facilities they possess give them advan- 

 tages not possessed by others, and not unfrequently secure 

 important engagements, particularly among proprietors who 

 happen to have considerable quantities of timber but who do 

 not employ a regular forester. We dare say such agents may 

 occasionally be able; to value timber and sell it too, but .their 

 woodcraft ends there. Some recognise this, and employ 



