A SKETCH ON SWEDISH FORESTRY 783 



regularly enough. Any discrepancy in these primarily chosen volume 

 classes could be adjusted later from the large sample tree material 

 of the survey proper. 



SOUTHERN CRUISING 



The other types of forest estimate, so called "Sorrlands Taxering," 

 used in the more valuable forests of the south, consists in first run- 

 ning parallel lines as before, but only to map the stands — using three 

 men with compass and chain, then afterwards taking a sample strip 

 covering only 4 per cent of a large stand, but as much as 10 per cent 

 of a small one. No sample areas being taken on stands below a certain 

 minimum size. 



The volumes are determined from a number of sample trees taken 

 on each stand. These used to be felled and sectioned, but are nowa- 

 days referred to regular tables by their form quotient. 



REGULATION OF CUT 



Without going into the old methods for determining the cut, it may 

 be said that almost all the German methods and their modulations have 

 been applied ; the last to be extensively used was the so-called normal 

 formula, where "annual cut equals twice the total volume of the stands 

 divided by the rotation." This can be erroneous even when the forests 

 happen to be "normal." The latest practice generally leaves as much 

 leeway as possible for abnormal conditions. Speaking broadly, some 

 formula is generally used and the first result thus obtained, compared 

 with either normal or actual growth. Any desired modification is 

 made using a so-called "temporary rotation" or reducing the result 

 by a certain "factor," a procedure which looks like "making an ex-- 

 cuse." The practice has suffered from a blind desire to use formulas, 

 even in the almost abnormal forests of the north. Where a relatively 

 intensive forestry can be practiced, as in parts of Sweden, the only 

 guides in determining the cut under abnormal age conditions should 

 be, first, the object aimed at as regards future forest conditions, and 

 temper this effort according to the requirements of the industry, present 

 economic conditions, and the state of the forests. Formulas should 

 only be a last resort or a rough guide. The latest Government instruc- 

 tions (for the State forests) says that one may use any well grounded 

 method for each case, or as a rule "let final cuts during one-third of 

 the rotation equal the whole of the old stands plus one-half the middle- 



