pine logs delivered at the mill were worth $16 per thousand 

 board feet, Doyle log scale, in July 1941, whereas No. 2 

 logs were worth $12. High-quality white and red oak 

 logs brought $25, but No. 2 logs brought only $16. In 

 both cases, prices for small No. 2 logs would be even less. 

 Profits can also be increased by managing pine stands to 

 yield a crop of long poles and piles harvested before the 

 saw timber. On a property in northeastern North Carolina 

 in the summer of 1941, trees that would cut out 65-foot 

 poles sold for $6.50 each on the stump and those suitable 

 for 85-foot poles sold for $1 1 each. A comparable stumpage 

 price for saw timber was about $4 and $6 per tree. 



Increased Use of Chestnut 



Efficient utilization of the 6.5 million cords of blight- 

 killed chestnut estimated in 1938 to be commercially 

 available is primarily a matter of using as much as possible 

 before it decays, burns, and otherwise deteriorates. At the 

 rate of about 300,000 cords per year — the average indus- 

 trial use of saw timber and extract wood between 1937 

 and 1940 — the available supply would last about 20 years 

 if there were no natural losses. Deterioration is rapid, 

 however, and losses will increase with each succeeding 



year- 

 Anticipation of these losses by an increase in consump- 

 tion will enable the people and industries to realize the 

 values in this large volume of raw material, but the feasi- 

 bility of such an effort depends upon active markets for 

 chestnut extract, liner board, and lumber, and upon 

 adequate supplies of woods labor and logging equipment. 

 Export outlets for extract have been curtailed because of 

 the war, but domestic needs have increased as our indus- 

 tries and armed forces expanded; the greater demand for 

 containers and packing material to ship the manufactured 

 goods has directly improved the market for chestnut liner 

 board. At present (1943) extract plants are using all the 

 wood obtainable. To salvage the wood before it deteri- 

 orates, it may be necessary to continue production at a 

 high level after the war or to stock pile wood ahead of 

 immediate requirements. 



Standardized Log Grades 



At present most of the standing timber is sold by the 

 lump sum, i.e., so much for the tract; logs are usually sold 

 at the mill by the thousand board feet log run. A few 

 operators buy logs according to grade, but these grades 

 differ at almost every mill. Accordingly, high-quality 

 timber is usually sold along with the poor, often at the same 

 price and scarcely ever at a price based upon grade yields 

 of lumber. Wood-products industries, as well as the 

 owner, are penalized by this custom, because they are un- 



55401.-,' 



-43- 



6l 



able to specily logs most suitable for their particular type 

 ol operation. Until standard log grades for both pine and 

 hardwoods are developed and put into use, the timber 

 owner is handicapped in selling his product. There is no 

 great incentive for him to grow high-quality saw timber 

 for sale, since he cannot be confident that it will bring an 

 appropriate price. Standard log grades would eliminate 

 these faults in present marketing methods and would 

 benefit buyer and seller alike. They should be developed 

 as rapidly as possible for use in North Carolina and all 

 other Southern States. 



Marketing of Forest Products 



A large part of the wood used by the forest industries in 

 North Carolina is purchased delivered at the mill yard or 

 as standing timber. As previously mentioned, few of 

 the logs are bought by grade, and stumpage is usually pur- 

 chased on a lump-sum basis. Farmers and other owners 

 of small timber tracts are often unable to obtain full value 

 for their wood under these conditions, because they do not 

 know the best methods of harvesting and measuring their 

 timber and as individuals they have little bargaining power. 

 As a result, many timberland owners do not consider in- 

 tensive forest management worth while. 



To stimulate better forestry, timber growers should re- 

 ceive more practical advice and assistance on timber esti- 

 mating, cutting methods, log grading, timber values, and 

 market opportunities. The most effective way to ac- 

 complish these objectives is by personal instruction and 

 demonstration. Several publicly employed foresters are 

 already engaged in this work but there is need for greatly 

 expanded effort. A forester in each of the heavily tim- 

 bered counties is desirable. 



Cooperative marketing associations offer another way 

 for farmers and small owners to improve marketing con- 

 ditions. Protection is thereby afforded the small pro- 

 ducer, and better prices are usually obtainable. The 

 buyer can afford to pay more because he is buying assem- 

 bled material from one source; he can check specifications 

 more easily; and he is reasonably certain of the supply. 

 Cooperatives have many pitfalls, however, and to be suc- 

 cessful they should be operated by, or receive the advice 

 of, a technical forester with a sound knowledge of business 

 practices. 



Expand Pub he Ownership 



Wherever forest land can be managed successfully by 

 private owners who are willing and able to keep the land 

 continuously productive, there is no need for a great in- 

 crease in public ownership. But where private owners 



