108 LOGGING 
grit dulls the saw, especially in a sandy soil. Sawyers cutting 
very low stumps cannot cut as much timber per day because 
the work is more fatiguing, consequently the decrease in the cut 
of a saw crew due to low stumps may reach 15 per cent in 
medium-sized timber. 
The general rule on the National Forests is that the stumps 
shall not exceed 18 inches in height. Lower stumps may be 
required at the discretion of the inspectors. The stump height 
on slopes should be determined at the contour line. 
LOG-MAKING 
Utilization of the Tree. — The bole usually is the most valuable 
portion of the tree, however, the curly stumps of black walnut 
and other species are highly esteemed for cabinet work. In 
many localities, rough tops and limbs are cut to a diameter 
of from 2 to 4 inches for firewood, pulpwood, charcoal burning 
and destructive distillation. Faggots are not utilized in this 
country. 
The portion of the bole which is removed from the forest is 
influenced by the location of the timber with reference both to 
the manufacturing plant and to markets. The lumberman with 
accessible timber may be able to handle low-grade logs which an 
operator with a less favorable location could not bring out profit- 
ably. 
The transportation charge for carrying lumber to markets 
is also a powerful factor in determining the extent of utilization, 
inasmuch as all grades of a given species pay the same freight 
rate and when the latter is high, low grades cannot be shipped 
at a profit. An interesting example is that of the shortleaf and 
longleaf pines of the South. Both species usually are sold at the 
same price f .o.b. at a given mill, but since longleaf weighs more per 
thousand feet, in some cases 300 pounds on a given item, the 
freight charge to market is greater and hence shortleaf can be 
shipped to more distant markets, or a lower average grade can 
be manufactured and the same profits secured as in the case of 
longleaf. 
Crooks, knots, pitch, worm holes and other defects are factors 
that influence the amount of bole taken. The extent and char- 
acter of the defects that a log may contain and still be mer- 
