Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], November 15, 1951, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
OF MONTANA.
HELENA
- _ ~ — November 15, 1951
Are You Receiving
• a a
J'ldL (JahuL 'IjoWc QhhibJtmaA, Jhs&A,
L AST year in Montana
mas trees were cut. ]
3,257,000 Christ
Most were cut on'
private lands, and in many cases the land
owners — farmers and ranchers—received
less return from their trees than they
should.
Unfamiliarity with the Christmas tree
industry is responsible for many private
land holders receiving less than full value
in selling their stumpage. A working
knowledge of the business can prevent this.
It is usually to the land holder's advan
tage to sell stumpage by the bale rather
than for a flat price.
Many times he will accept a price under
the actual value because he knows nothing
of the methods used in selling trees or of
the value of stumpage. Another reason for
accepting nearly any price is that the land
owner did not expect to receive any reve
nue from the trees. He feels that the cutter
is doing him a favor by taking the trees,
thus saving him time and labor in clearing
land for farming.
Often when the land own
er sells by the bale he makes
no effort to count the bales
but will take the count of the
buyer. A» unscrupulous buy
er can take advantage of this
laxity and cut many more
than he pays for.
Although a land owner
counts the bales, he may still
be duped. Some cutters put
No. 6 trees in No. 4 bales, and
No. 8 trees in No. 6 bales. By
so doing the cutter obtains
many trees which he does not
pay for.
Another, and probably the
most despised tree fraud is
the high-jacker, who is prob
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S MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING
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By JOHN HOSSACK
,t.
ably either a hold-over or a graduate of the
bootleg days.
He may be posing as a buyer while he is
looking for a- way to move trees, already
cut, to his own yard. The high-jacker can
move a lot of trees in one night and sell
them as easily as legally-acquired trees.
The land owner who is approached by a
prospective buyer would do well to. have
his stumpage appraised by an expert. A
state or federal forest service man often
would do it for him, or his county exten
sion agent or some neighbor who knows
the work.
He should also find out the price of
stumpage in his locality» The price will vary
in different areas according to the abund
ance of trees. The forest services, both
state and federal, sell trees by the bale al
though many private land owners do not.
Trees are baled according to size and,
in some cases, according to both size and
grade.
Length of a tree is measured from the
bottom whorl of branches to the tip or
leader. If the tree has an excessively long
leader it is measured up to a reasonable
height.
Trees baled according to size alone are
baled after the following procedure:
No. 2s, or deuces, are under 3% feet in
length and baled eight trees per bale. No.
4s, are 3% to 5% feet in length and are
baled six trees per bale, No. 6s, are 5% to
7% feet in length and are baled four trees
per bale, No. 8s, are 7% to 9% feet in length
and are baled three trees per bale.
No. 10s, are 9% to 11% feet in length and
are baled two per bale, No. 12s, are over 11%
feet in length and are baled one per bale,
Trees baled according to both size and
grade have no standard grading system,
Christmas tree men have a mental system
for determining grade. This system is based
on the appearance of the tree. The best
trees are the "select" or No. Is, which have
(Please Turn to Page 18)
pf 8
LEFT: Loading free« from yard 1«
lake to railroad for shipment.
LEFT BELOW: Cutter squaring ■
butt for easier handling.
RIGHT BELOW: Butting and He
ing Christmas trees in Missoula. (U.
S. Forest Service photos)