The Subdivision of Forests 195 



tiated, it is very important that a careful and critical inspection 

 of both should take place. The forester in charge of the area 

 should accompany the forest organizer and if possible other per- 

 sons learned in the principles of subdivision should also accom- 

 pany. In some cases it may be necessary to shift the lines, 

 so that they will run between two stands rather than through 

 a stand. A stand should not be cut in two by a subdivision line 

 if it can avoided. The boundaries of compartments and stands 

 should coincide. One of the chief reasons why stands should 

 be differentiated before the final demarcation of the lines takes 

 place is because of the ease with which the lines can be shifted 

 if necessary. It is more difficult and expensive to shift lines which 

 have been finally demarcated than lines which have been only 

 provisionally demarcated. 



6. Definite or Final Construction of Subdivision Lines. — After 

 all the provisional lines and differentiated stands have been ex- 

 amined and are considered satisfactory and able to fulfill the 

 duties imposed upon them, the definite or final construction of the 

 lines should be undertaken. A transit should be used for this pur- 

 pose. The crew, as a rule, should consist of five men, an instru- 

 ment man, two men with axes, one with a small axe, and one with 

 a bill hook. In case of a shrubby growth like Scrub oak one axe 

 may be replaced by a long-handled pruning shear with short stout 

 blades, a very effective instrument. These lines may be cut from 

 6 to 10 feet wide. They might be narrower, but it is difficult to 

 make a narrow line, especially in medium-sized second growth. 

 In case of young material the lines should be cut clean, but where 

 the lines pass through older material most of the thrifty speci- 

 mens should be left standing. The retention of these large, 

 thrifty, and scattered specimens until the end of the rotation may 

 be a valuable asset in holding the undergrowth upon the lines in 

 check, due to the shade which the large trees produce. In hard- 

 wood forests in particular, all thrifty trees upon the lines should 

 be retained. All the lines should be carefully marked with 

 temporary stakes. The cost of this final construction and clean- 

 ing of the lines upon the Mont Alto State Forest varied from 

 $7.95 to $14.59 per mile, or an average of $10.38 per mile. The 

 total average cost of both the provisional and final construction 

 was $13.20 per mile. The average cost per acre for the area cov- 

 ered was about six cents. 



