TIMBER ESTIMATING IN THE SOUTHERN 



APPALACHIANS 



By R. C. Hall 



Forest Bxaminer, Forest Service 



The systematic estimating of timber in the southern Appalachians 

 presents some problems which are common to that branch of forestry 

 in all mountainous regions, and others which are perhaps unique. 

 There is the usual wide variation in the density and quality of the 

 stand, owing to the difference in soil, altitude, and exposure. This 

 variation is further complicated, however, by the thoroughly dissected 

 nature of the topography, which is such that extensive slopes with 

 fairly uniform conditions for timber growth are practically unknown, 

 and even small tracts are almost sure to be cut up by minor 

 hollows and ridges with every variety of soil and exposure. Thus 

 travelling in a straight line across the topography, very frequent 

 changes in forest type are encountered. Another difficulty consists 

 in the large number of species and products to be considered. In 

 making a recent estimate in West Virginia it was necessary to keep 

 track of fourteen species of sawtimber, in addition to tanbark, black 

 oak bark, cross ties, poles, posts, and extract wood. It is unnecessary 

 to point out that the recording and computing of the tally is con- 

 siderably complicated by the necessity of classification into so many 

 items. The problems connected with the estimating of individual 

 trees are not so different from those that are met with elsewhere, 

 except that close acquaintance with many species is necessary, and 

 the great variation in quality of the hardwoods makes proper allow- 

 ance for defect often extremely difficult. 



The "practical" cruiser who comes to this region from the North, 

 especially from the Lake States, is likely at first not to realize what 

 a large influence the sparseness of the timber on upper slopes and 

 ridges has on the average stand per acre of the whole tract examined. 

 Therefore he is apt to greatly overestimate, as some investors 

 have found out to their cost. The local cruiser of the southern 

 mountains ordinarily recognizes two qualities of stand, and makes 

 the minor watershed his unit, following up each hollow and estimating 

 the timber on it separately. He gives his attention chiefly to the 

 valuable timber on the lower slope and cove lands, lumping off the 

 remainder on an acreage basis or disregarding it entirely. 

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