FOREST SURVEYS ON MICHIGAN STATE FORESTS 575 



FOREST DESCRIPTION 



Description of Plantations. — Under this heading is noted the density 

 of the stand of planted seedHngs as indicated by the approximate num- 

 ber of seedlings per acre, their average heights, age, and thrift. In 

 case the seedlings have been underplanted, a note is made as to the need 

 of liberation cuttings. 



The estimator has ample time to notice these details, since in most 

 cases the planted areas support few trees which have to be tallied. 



Description of Native Stand. — This is the usual forest description, 

 done in considerably more detail than is done by the U. S. Forest Serv- 

 ice on its timber sur\'eys, however. Not alone is the silvical description 

 written in some detail, but notes also are taken regarding the condition 

 of fire-lines, roads, sign-boards, and other improvements. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Each crew of three men will cover, on the average, about i,ooo acres 

 per week. By the end of the week not alone has the field work been 

 completed, but the maps have .been corrected and in such shape that 

 they can be placed on the atlas forms without further corrections. 

 Furthermore, most of the timber estimates have been computed and 

 summed on the ofiice forms. The average day's run of strip line is 

 about 2^ miles, representing about 200 acres of total area. 



Immediately upon conclusion of the field season the costs of the 

 work are summarized and maps and measurements are checked over 

 and put into final shape. At this time, too, the forest descriptions are 

 examined in detail and any information which they may aflford which 

 is of especial interest is taken from them. 



The cost of the work is less than lo cents an acre. This cost is low, 

 owing to the ease of laying out the control lines and to the large amount 

 of nearly level, open country, where there is little tree measuring to be 

 done and sightings through compass and hand-level are easily made. 



