ABSOi^uTE FORM quotie;nt 347 



series obtained from this species and those which were earlier worked 

 out by Professor Jonson for Scotch pine and spruce. He also finds that 

 the volume tables drawn up by Jonson and applicable to pine and Nor- 

 way sp'uce, can be used with reasonable accuracy in the valuation of 

 larch. 



It is obvious that much time, money, and energy which is now being 

 spent jn the preparation of local volume tables would be saved if we 

 could prove that the "absolute form quotient" when applied to coni- 

 fers on this continent has the same indisputable value as a form- 

 deteimining factor as in Scandinavian and that a distinct and constant 

 averEge taper series, based on actual measurements, can be constructed 

 for each form class. For, having the taper series for each form class 

 and each species, it will only be a matter of office calculations to pre- 

 pare universal volume tables in board feet, cubic feet or ties for total 

 length or merchantable length, whichever we may desire. 



The authors have for some time pursued investigations on this line 

 in Ontario and British Columbia. The results are in our opinion very 

 striking. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN ONTARIO 



The taper series for each analyzed tree was obtained by dividing the 

 diameter at breast height into the measured diameters at every tenth 

 of the stem above breast height. Consequently, the quotients repre- 

 sented proportionally the same height on all trees, that is, at breast 

 height and at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 per cent of the stem 

 above breast height. In addition the diameter at the stump or 3.5 feet 

 below breast height was divided into the breast height diameter. The 

 quotient at half the stem above breast height, or at 50 per cent, repre- 

 sents the ''absolute form quotient" or the "formclass." 



Grouping all individual series according to form class, the following 

 average series were obtained inside bark. 



Red Pine — Fodii Class 6j — Average, ii Trees. 

 Diam. at 

 sec. in per cent 



ofd.b.h. (b. h.) I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX 



Red pine 100 94.0 87.6 80.7 73.8 65.0 55.7 43.9 31.0 16.0 



Scotch 

 pine 



Jonson's 

 computed 

 series 100 94.3 88. 81.1 73.5 65.0 55.4 44.3 31.1 15.0 



