316 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



METHODS OF TALLY 



In addition to planning the strips as to both location and number 

 so as to include a representative and sufficient sample of the timber, 

 it is essential to estimate and tally the individual trees in such a wa}- 

 that their true content may be determined as accurately as possible. 



The individual trees estimated on the strips can be recorded either 

 in terms of the final products, as saw logs, ties, posts, or acidwood, or 

 as trees of certain size the contents to be later determined by the 

 application of volume tables. The first method is possible only when 

 the estimator is very expert, and speed not necessary, and conse- 

 quently has not been used except in exceptional instances in Forest 

 Service appraisals. Under ordinary conditions, it is desirable to use 

 the volume table method. When a large amount of work is to be done 

 in a given locality, local volume tables, or modifications of general 

 tables based on local measurements, may be made in a short time if 

 satisfactory general tables are not available. The Forest Service 

 has a set of volume tables for the principal species and products of the 

 southern Appalachians which will give good results when applied with 

 judgment and checked for the locality. 



Sazv Timber. 



The part which the factor of top diameter (d.i.b. at the small end 

 of the top merchantable log) plays in estimating sawtimber by a volume 

 table method has been recognized.^ It is important that the table used 

 be based on top diameters corresponding to those of the timber as tallied 

 in the field, especially in the case of one-log hardwoods, where the vari- 

 ation in this dimension is' large. In estimating timl;)er which runs short 

 bodied, the writer has found it desirable in some cases to obtain enough 

 measurements of one-log and one and one-half log trees to make 

 local tables for those heights, even when the general tables were appli- 

 cable to trees of the greater height classes. 



It has been found convenient to tally trees containing sawtimber by 

 d.b.h. 2-inch classes and number of 16-foot logs.^ If the stand is on the 

 whole short bodied, they may be tallied by half logs (8-foot lengths), 

 without making too many columns on the tally sheet. However, it is 



2 See "Some Problems in Appalachian Timber Appraisal," by W. W. Ashe, in 

 this issue of the Jotirnal of Forestry, p. 322. 



3 An exception is made of spruce, which is tallied by d.b.h. and total height in 

 10-foot classes. This makes it possible to compute the tally in cords of pulpwood 

 if desired, and is not inaccurate for sawtimber, since there is a more uniform relation- 

 ship between merchantable and total height in spruce than in hardwoods. 



