FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 175 



necessary is to measure length and mid diameter of a loi>-, the 

 fiirures on the rule givino- the cubic contents. The ratio of 

 board feet to cubic feet in logs of different sizes could further 

 be had for the convenience of saw mill men. 



Some will question the accuracy of this method of measure- 

 ment as applied to long logs, such for instance as might be 

 cut out of our representative tree. On this point tabulations 

 could be presented if necessary. From these it would appear, 

 I think, that the accuracy of the method is sufficient. What- 

 ever the length and shape of the log, the departure of the 

 values so gained from true figured volume is but a small per 

 cent. No premium, at any rate, is put oil timber waste. 



The experience of others, however, is conclusive on this 

 point. The practice of Europe so far as I know it is of this 

 kind. I have myself helped measure timber in the Black 

 Forest of Germany. Great trees there 3 feet through and 

 100 feet or more high, cut off away up at 8 or 10 inches 

 diameter, would have their diameter measured only at the 

 middle point. And lumber there too was worth three times 

 as much per volume as at the mills of Maine. 



Finally, as helping to approve the principle of the system 

 of measurement here proposed, and perhaps in all its details 

 furnishing us with a pattern, I will refer to the practice of the 

 state of New Hampshire. Here an artificial cubic foot has 

 been made by law, equal to about 1.4 of the standard cubic 

 foot. To measure contents a caliper rule has been constructed 

 known as the Blodgett rule. As used in practice, it gives the 

 contents of a log from length and mid diameter, seven-eighths 

 of an inch l)v the structure of the rule beins: thrown out for 

 bark. The law under which this method of scalinof was estab- 

 lished is quoted below. In practice it has so far as I know 

 worked very satisfactorily. 



Puljlic Statutes, New Hampshire. 1891. p. .358. 



Chap. 128, Sec. 4. All round ship timber shall be measured according to the fol- 

 lowing rule: a stick of timber 1(5 inches in diameter and 12 inches in length shall 

 constitute one cubic foot, and in the same ratio for any other size and quantity ; 

 forty feet shall constitute one ton. 



Sec. .'). All round timber, the quantity of which is estimated by the thousand, 

 shall be measured according to the following rule: a stick of timber It; inches in 

 diameter and 12 inches in length shall constitute one cubic foot, and the same 

 ratio shall apply to any other size and quantity. Each cubic foot shall constitute 

 ten feet of a thousand. 



