over the timberland again in ten years, you 

 may find that the growth in some areas has been 

 sufficient to raise the area to the next higher 

 classification. For instance, a "pole size" tract 

 may have grown enough to be reclassified as 

 "young saw timber." This could mean increas- 

 ing the value per acre to some small extent to 

 reflect the growth of the timber in the ten year 

 period. 



When a cutting has been made, the timber- 

 land owner will no doubt ask for an adjustment 

 of the appraised value of his holdings. With the 

 classifications used as defined, by going over the 

 tract the owner feels should be adjusted, you 

 will readily be able to determine to what classi- 

 fication the tract ought to be changed. As an 

 illustration ONLY, we will say X Corporation 

 has cut the merchantable timber on 200 acres 



of land which you had classified as such and 

 appraised at $25.00 per acre. After going over 

 the land with the owner, you have determined 

 the classification has changed to "pole size tim- 

 ber," which, in your opinion, should be ap- 

 praised at $8.00 per acre. In other words, the 

 majority of the trees that have been left to grow 

 are between five and nine inches in diameter 

 at breast height. There would be some trees 

 smaller than five inches, also there might be 

 some "seedlings and saplings," which would not 

 change the classification from "pole size tim- 

 ber" but might have some bearing on the value 

 per acre. 



You can readily see where the classifications 

 that are suggested will help with an original 

 appraisal and when adjustments are necessary 

 due to normal growth or to cuttings. 



VIRGINIA 



"When the surface of the land is owned by 

 one person and the standing timber trees 

 thereon are owned by another, the relative value 

 of each shall be determined and the several own- 

 ers assessed with the value of their respective 

 interests. 58-804 (f) 



"When the surface and standing timber trees 

 are owned by the same person, the value of the 

 land, inclusive of the standing timber trees, 

 shall be ascertained and assessed at such ascer- 



tained value. 58-804 (g) 



". . . when any timberland heretofore as- 

 sessed, the owner of the timber on which is also 

 the owner of the land, is reduced in value to the 

 extent of two hundred dollars and upwards by 

 the removal of the timber therefrom, the com- 

 missioner shall assess the land in its then pres- 

 ent condition and reduce the charge for the 

 same to the amount so assessed." 58-813 

 Code of Virginia 1950. 



WASHINGTON 



The following sections of the Revised Code of 

 Washington provide a statement of legislative 

 intent on forest taxation, establish criteria for 

 timber and timberland valuation, and set forth 

 requirements for preparation and periodic re- 

 vision of the Timber Appraisal Manual. 



VALUATION OF TIMBER AND 



TIMBERLANDS— CRITERIA 



ESTABLISHED 



RCW 84.40.032 



Based upon the study as directed by house 

 concurrent resolution No. 10 of the thirty-sev- 

 enth session of the legislature relating to the 

 taxation of timber and timberlands, the legisla- 

 ture hereby establishes the criteria set forth in 

 RCW 84.40.031 through 84.40.035 as standards 

 for the valuation of timber and timberlands for 

 tax purposes. 



"TIMBERLANDS" DEFINED AND 



DECLARED LANDS DEVOTED 



TO REFORESTATION 



RCW 84.40.032 



As used in RCW 84.40.031 through 84.40.035 

 "timberlands" mean land primarily suitable and 

 used for growing a continuous supply of forest 

 products, whether such lands be cut-over, se- 

 lectively harvested, or contain merchantable or 

 immature timber, and includes the timber 

 thereon. Timberlands are lands devoted to re- 

 forestation within the meaning of Article VII, 

 section 1 of the state Constitution as amended. 



LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS 



RCW 84.40.033 



It is hereby found and declared that : 



(1) Timber constitutes the primary renew- 



78 



