MEASUREMENT OF LOGS AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCTS 117 



the latter case there is less opportunity for crooked sticks to 

 project beyond the edge of the stack. Likewise, the longer the 

 stack the greater the solid contents. 



Another factor is the closeness with which the limbs are cut 

 from the sticks, for the rougher the sticks the more air space 

 present. 



Stacks are usually somewhat wider at the top than at the base, 

 due to the spread of the supporting sticks. The best practice 

 is to measure the stacks midway between the top and bottom. 



Tables showing the volume of soHd wood per standard cord 

 for sticks of given lengths and diameters, and also the volume 

 of solid wood in stacks 4 feet high, 8 feet long, and for sticks 

 of given lengths and diameters are given on page 521 in the 

 Appendix. 



Cord measure is used chiefly for the measurement of firewood, 

 pulpwood, excelsior wood, stave bolts and Kke material. In 

 the spruce region of the Northeast pulpwood is often bought 

 in the log by cord measure, without stacking. The contents in 

 cords are determined by calipering the average diameter of the 

 log, determining the length and then reading from a table the 

 number of cubic feet in the stick. The sum of the contents of all 

 logs divided by 128 gives the number of cords. The table on 

 page 522 in the Appendix gives the same results for unpiled logs 

 that would be secured if the wood were piled and measured. 



The measurement of logs to determine their contents is termed 

 scaling, and men performing the work are called scalers. The 

 scaler's chief tool is a flat or square hickory stick from 3 to 5 feet 

 long which is used to measure diameters. One edge is laid off 

 in inches, and at corresponding points on the two sides and the 

 other edge are shown the contents in board feet of logs of various 

 lengths. 



The stick is usually shod with metal on the lower end to 

 enable the scaler to place the rule accurately. The heads are of 

 a variety of patterns ; some square, some " T " shaped, and others 

 in the form of a hook from 6 to 12 inches in length. The latter 



