18 FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 



The 71 trees on the area have been divided into 1 classes according to 

 size. The average volume of trees of the first class is 23 cubic feet, of 

 the second 15.2, of the third 8, of the fourth 3. Now if out of the grove 

 as it stands, we should choose trees of just these volumes, trees too that 

 fairly represent their classes in regard to height, condition and crown 

 development, if we should cut these 4 sample or model trees down, 

 measure them in the way recently illustrated, and from these schedules 

 by computation get at their history, these 4 trees it will be seen, if good 

 judgment and good luck both accompanied the selection, might stand for 

 their respective groups. This again is a method of figuring used by the 

 Germans in reckoning with their forests, but over and above any ques- 

 tion of authority it is a method both convenient and satisfactory, one 

 approved in other words by common sense. 



In order to fill the requirements exactly, 4 model trees are called for, 

 representative of their classes in respect to height and crown develop- 

 ment, and of size and volume as follows : 

 1 tree over 10 inches in diameter, with volume of 23 cubic feet. 

 1 -i 8-10 '' " " " 15.2 " , 



1 u 6-8 " " " " 8 " 



1 u 3_ 6 " " " " 3 "■ 



In filling this bill I had cut in the woods and subjected to detail meas- 

 urement. 



1 tree U inches in diameter, with a volume of 23 cubic feet. 

 1 '^ 0.5 " " " " 17 " 



l " 7_2 '' " " " 8 " 



Two of these fit the requirements perfectly. The third can be made to 

 do so by the use of a converting factor. None of the small, suppressed 

 trees were cut, so the data for that class we shall have to put in by guess. 



Now from what has gone before it will be seen at once what facts are 

 w^anted in the history of these trees, and it will be quite as evident how 

 they are obtained. It is necessary only to state the principal dimensions 

 of the three trees, and to show their development in height and volume. 

 The two largest trees appear to be of the same age— IDS years. This we 

 Avill assume as the age of the grove as well. The size of the trees meas- 

 ured is given at 10-year periods, at the end of each decade from the 5th 

 to the 10th. Back of 50 years some of the facts desired cannot, from data 

 in hand, be accurately obtained. A suppositious 5 inch tree, representa- 

 tive of the smallest class into which the stand was divided, we will at the 

 same time j)ut in by guess. 



