Notes on Forestry and Wood-Use
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo F-1June, 1965
HOME GROWN TIMBER FOR FARM CONSTRUCTION
Edgar J. Lott, Extension Forester and Roy C. Brundage, Extension Specialist in Wood Utilization
Look to your own woods first for timber for your building needs . In fact, the chief aim of good woods management is to produce enough lumber for farm buildings and repairs. Although working or nailing the hardwoods is not as easy as with soft-woods, the availability of hardwoods, their durability and lower cost will often compensate for the extra effort required to put them to use. Factors such as durability, strength, resistance to bending, and nail holding ability, make some species more suitable for certain uses than others. White oak, for example, is a strong durable wood that serves well as sills of buildings, skids under movable hog houses, corn cribs or poultry houses. Hickory has the desired strength for this use but its lack of durability gives it a low rating for such purposes.
Native timber has several other advantages over timber shipped in from distant areas:
1.	It is usually cheaper because the long shipping cost is eliminated.
2 . As a group, the hardwoods are much more durable and will produce structures that last longer than those built of softwoods.
3.	It is more easily obtained locally in most instances.
4.	A great variety of species provides wood to fit most any use.
Steps to Consider in Using Timber from Your Farm Woods
1.	Determine your building needs and what is available in your woods. If you have more trees that should be removed than your present building plans call for, the surplus lumber will keep if properly piled. If trees are thrifty and in good condition, cut only what you need. Table 1 shows how many trees of different sizes are needed for 1000 board feet of lumber.
Table 1. Number of trees to cut for 1000 board feet of lumber
	Short	Average	Tall
Diameter*	trees	trees	trees
16	10	8	6
20	6	4	3
24	4	3	2
28	2 -  2	2	
* At 4 1/2 feet above ground.
Example: If you are planning a poultry house needing 2, 500 board feet of lumber and your trees are of average height, you will need to cut about ten 20-inch trees (2.5 thousand x 4).
2.	The best time to cut timber is during fall and winter months. Logs and lumber are less likely to check and are not subject to insect injury or rot.