CHAPTER XXV

PRICES OF HOME-GROWN TIMBER

These vary so much in different parts of the country that it is almost impossible to give a list that would apply generally to the British Isles. Local demand and the situation of the plantations where the timber is to be sold have to be considered, while the quantity available and quality of the particular timber are also important factors in determining the price.

In many instances woods and plantations are far removed from road and rail, consequently the cost of delivering to the consuming centre is proportionately high, while in the vicinity of coal mines or manufacturing towns almost every class of timber will find a ready and profitable market. Then the quality of the timber (its reputation, we might almost say) is a powerful factor in assessing its value, as will be seen in the case of oak produced in Surrey and Sussex, or beech from the chalky districts of Kent and Hertfordshire. No timber merchant thinks twice as to whether he should, on account of quality, purchase oaks at Rockingham, Ashridge, Welbeck or other well-known centres, and so it is with the beech timber on the Chiltern Hills, at the Chenies, in Hertfordshire, or with Scotch pine from the famous Aberdeenshire plantations.

But there is another factor that frequently affects the price of good timber, and that is, that in inaccessible positions the quantity offered is too small. This has been the case with excellent larch timber in Ireland, where the quantity offered was not sufficient to induce the timber merchant to lay down plant and arrange for delivery to the nearest railway or port. There are other causes of a minor nature that greatly affect the price of home-grown timber, and it is a curious fact that in adjoining counties, sometimes even in the same county, the prices of various timbers vary several pence per cubic foot. With all woodland products the same is the case, and locality and local demand determine the price of faggots, firewood and other commodities.

Previous to the war, the following were the average prices of home-grown timber, felled and lying in the wood; also of other woodland produce. The prices at present are generally much higher.

_s._ _d._ _s._ _d._ Ash from 1 6 to 2 6 per cubic foot. Alder ” 0 7 ” 0 10 ” ” Beech ” 0 10 ” 1 4 ” ” Birch ” 0 7 ” 0 10 ” ” Chestnut (Spanish) ” 1 3 ” 1 6 ” ” ” (Horse) ” 0 8 —— ” ” Cherry ” 0 9 ” 1 2 ” ” Elm ” 0 7 ” 1 6 ” ” Larch ” 0 10 ” 1 4 ” ” Lime ” 0 10 ” 1 6 ” ” Oak ” 1 3 ” 2 6 ” ” Oak, brown ” 3 6 ” 10 6 ” ”

(but these trees are usually sold at so much for each)

Poplar from 0 9 to 1 6 per cubic foot. Scotch Pine ” 0 5 ” 0 10 ” ” Spruce Fir ” 0 5 ” 0 9 ” ” Willow ” 1 6 ” 10 6 ” ” Walnut ” 1 0 ” 2 6 ” ” Sycamore ” 1 3 ” 2 6 ” ” Firewood ” 5 0 per cart load. ” ” 12 0 to 16 0 per cord. Faggots (large) ” 14 0 ” 21 0 ” 100. ” (small) ” 2 6 per 100. Oak bark ” 52 0 ” ton. Charcoal ” 1 0 ” bushel.

Since the war commenced several kinds of timber have increased greatly in value, notably ash, poplar, Scotch pine and spruce fir. For the latter as much as 1_s._ 4_d._ per cubic foot was obtained in Bucks, while in several cases first-class ash timber realized upwards of 4_s._ per cubic foot.

Pitwood, also, has increased in price.

PRICES OF TIMBER PER TON WEIGHT

In several parts of the country, particularly Ireland, timber is regularly sold by weight and the following prices were realized previous to the war:—

_s._ _d._ _s._ _d._ Ash and sycamore —— 18 0 per ton. Beech 5 0 to 10 0 ” Larch 12 0 ” 20 0 ” Scotch pine, spruce and silver fir —— 8 0 ” Spruce 8 0 ” 10 0 ” Oak —— 15 0 ” Elm and beech —— 10 0 ” Hardwoods of pitwood size —— 6 0 ” Larch poles and pitwood (Wales) 9 0 ” 10 0 ”

That the heavy importation of foreign woods has had a prejudicial influence on the value of home-grown timbers is realized by all those who are engaged in the trade. The depreciation in price has, however, been so gradual that it is difficult to realize this unless by comparing the prices of to-day with those of, say, a hundred years ago. Several of these comparisons clearly indicate that oak, at least, has become much reduced in value, less so ash and elm, and the following list of prices obtained in 1807 for timber on two estates in Hants will serve to show that for trees of equal size the price to-day is far behind that of a century ago.

_s._ _d._ Oak averaging 9 cubic feet 4 0 per foot. Ash ” 7 ” 2 3 ” Elm ” 22 ” 1 9 ” Beech ” 14 ” 1 6 ” Sycamore ” 19 ” 1 3 ” Fir ” 11 ” 1 3 ”

On another estate trees of about the same size brought: oak, 4_s._; ash, 1_s._ 6_d._; elm, etc., 1_s._; beech, 1_s._; and firs, 1_s._ per cubic foot. When the small size of the individual trees is taken into account, and even admitting that only the best portion of each trunk was measured, the prices, as compared with those of to-day, are exceedingly high, particularly for oak, ash and fir.