A NEW MEASURING INSTRUMENT. 

 By H. W. Siggins. 



The forester, in his daily work in the woods, frequently has 

 the opportunity to collect odd bits of data or make measurements 

 which might later be of considerable value to him if accurate. 

 Often, too, he desires to have an occasional check on his ocular 

 estimate. It is' out of the question for him to be carrying around 

 at all times the several instruments required to make these va- 

 ried observations. There is seldom a time, however, that a straight 

 walking-stick would seriously discommode him. The idea oc- 

 curred to the writer that a combination of the Biltmore stick, the 

 Christen Hypsometer, and the Doyle rule in a single stick would 

 solve the problem, since it would be very compact and at the same 

 time would cover quite thoroughly the common requirements of a 

 forester, not engaged in special detailed researches. Such a com- 

 bination would enable him to measure total height, crown height, 

 merchantable height, or the height of any point on the bole; to 

 measure the diameter of the standing trees at breast height and 

 the diameter of logs at any point; to determine the volume of 

 logs, either by the Doyle rule or by the application of any form- 

 ula; to estimate the volume of standing trees by measuring the 

 diameter b. h. and merchantable height, allowing for taper, and 

 then referring to the Doyle rule ; to make any measurements that 

 can be made with an ordinary yard-stick. 



In pursuance of the idea, the Christen and Biltmore stick scales 

 were carefully calculated to hundredths of an inch and tran- 

 scribed to a suitable stick. The completed instrument consists 

 of a round, hard maple stick, three and one-half feet long and 

 shod at each end with a brass ferrule. The folding arms for the 

 Christen are set in at points approximately 5 and 20 inches from 

 the top. They consist of brass strips 2 x ^ x 1-12 inches, rounded 

 at one end, and provided with a hole through which a nail is 

 driven, hinging the blade like that of a jack knife. Brass seats 

 are set into the wood behind the blades, so as- to allow them to 

 open only to a position perpendicular to the stick. A notch on 



