752 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



rings is simple and accurate far beyond most things we do in the forest. 

 The fact that the height is remarkably independent of stocking is well 

 shown by every study and by the figures in Bates' table. To sum up: 



1. A measure is needed to enable a survey party to report intelli- 

 gently on the quality of a piece of land for the growing of a particular 

 kind of timber. This classification must remain simple to be of any 

 use ; Europe has not gone beyond five classes and we not beyond three. 



2. In extreme cases high altitude, unduly steep or rocky ground, thin 

 soil on rock, swamp, etc., the soil and situation practically tell the story. 

 But in most cases a statement concerning soil, soil moisture, and the 

 combination of various factors, including climate, which cannot possibly 

 be known to any survey party ; a general estimate of site, then, without 

 the use of timber is too uncertain. 



3. In using the timber, two ways have been proposed: (a) Volume 

 of properly stocked stand (normal stocking) of given age (usually lOO 

 years) ; (b) height of tree at given age. 



The former method has been accepted as standard ; the second 

 method has never been accepted, and yet intentionally and uninten- 

 tionally it has been used in connection with the former. 



Thus, Schwappach depended on the height for his first site classifi- 

 cation in selection of plots. 



4. Even in cared- for stands the question of stocking has given a great 

 deal of trouble and the conception of a normally stocked stand has 

 changed, especially since 1850, and may change more. It varies often 

 with the object of management. In the wild-woods w'ork we begin be- 

 fore we know what a normal stand should be. We do know something 

 concerning the growth of the individual tree ; we know little as to 

 growth of the stand. 



5. The current yearly growth of an acre of strip survey cannot be 

 determined accurately at all if the survey is to remain within practi- 

 cable limits ; the current yearly growth varies for the same stand with 

 age and with seasons, and would make the same acre appear as belong- 

 ing to difi^erent sites in different years ; the current yearly growth in 

 cubic feet depends on the stocking, and for overstocked stands ignores 

 almost entirely the quality growth and may thus mislead in any attempt 

 at classification. 



6. Height and diameter make up a large part of quality and all of vol- 

 ume. Height, unlike diameter, is conspicuously independent of stock- 

 ing, and consequently of treatment of forest. Height is easily and 

 accurately determined, and thus makes a usable measure in survey 

 work. 



