176 A MANUAL FOR NORTHERN WOODSMEN 



b. Some 60 heights measured with the hypsometer. These 

 might have been averaged for each diameter class, but a better 

 plan is to plot all the heights on cross-section paper and draw a 

 curve through them as in the accompanying sketch. From this curve 

 the average height of the 8-inch trees is read off as 50 feet, of the 

 9-inch trees as 55 feet, and so on. The larger trees of the grove, 

 those 16 inches and over in diameter, averaged 80 feet in height. 



c. From the proper volume table the contents of a single tree of 

 each size class is now taken and multiplied by the number of trees 

 in the class. For the tract in question Table No. 4 gives the 

 figures wanted, the product of the trees in boards, both round-edged 

 and square-edged lumber. In this table the contents of a tree 8 

 inches in breast diameter and 50 feet high is given as 50 feet B. M. ; 

 that of a tree 9 inches x 55 feet, 70 feet, and so on. No discount 

 appearing necessary for defects, by addition of the contents of the 

 size classes the total stand of the lot is obtained. This comes to 

 253 M feet, of which in the practice of the locality 20 per cent may 

 be sawed into good plank, 30 per cent into edged boards, and the 

 balance of 50 per cent, the smaller trees and rougher logs, put into 

 round-edged box-board lumber. The recorded figures, the plot 

 and height curve, and a table showing the way the figures are put 

 together, are given on the preceding page. 



The estimate after this fashion of 250 M feet of timber 

 of this size is a light day's work for two men. Three men 

 form an economical crew for big jobs. 



3. In the valuable timber lands of the Lake States and 

 South it is customary to estimate each forty acres by 

 itself, and the methods of estimation frequently cover 

 the whole stand. Pacing is largely used as a measure of 

 distance, and the cruiser is generally equipped with some 

 kind of volume table giving as often as not the board 

 contents of trees of different diameters yielding 2, 3, 4, or 

 5 16- ft. logs. Usually two men work together. In that case 

 the helper may run a compass line across one end of the 

 " forty," ten rods or so from its boundary, leaving marks 

 enough so that on the return trip it can be followed. 

 Through the strip so cut off the cruiser circulates, keep- 

 ing watch of his other bound and scoring down, as he 

 passes, the merchantable trees according to species and 

 in appropriate classes. As a rule very little measurement 

 of height or diameter has been done in the past. The two 

 men keep abreast of one another. When one strip has 

 been covered another is taken in the same way. After 

 the whole ** forty " has been covered addition of the 



