THE COMPARTMENT. 295 



Each working circle or range, as the case may be, must be 

 further divided. The unit of that division is the compartment. 

 A number of compartments are grouped together into cutting 

 series, and a number of the latter form the working circle, or a 

 part of it called a working section. The whole of this division 

 is effected by utilizing, in addition to the outer boundaries, 

 interior natural lines, such as water partings, watercourses, 

 precipices, etc., and artificial lines, as roads already constructed 

 or projected and rides. 



Although the division of the working circle depends chiefly 

 on the system of roads and rides, it is desirable, before indicat- 

 ing how it should be laid out, to explain more fully what is 

 understood by compartment, sub -compartment, cutting series 

 and working section. 



2. The Compartment. 



By compartment is understood the unit of working ; it forms, 

 therefore, the unit of the division of the forest. 



The above definition should never be lost sight of. If the 

 boundaries of a compartment can be made to coincide with 

 those of a wood showing a certain composition or age so much 

 the better, but it is a mistake to insist upon such an arrange- 

 ment ; the main point is, that each compartment should be of 

 a certain size, so as to fulfil its objects as the unit of working. 

 If that area includes two or more different kinds of growing 

 woods, they may be distinguished as sub-compartments ; but 

 the boundaries of the unit of working should never be twisted 

 out of shape for the sake of including only one kind of growing 

 stock in each compartment. 



The formation of compartments is necessary 



(1) For general orientation, so as to enable the forester to 



define any particular part of the area accurately. 



(2) To render all parts of the forest easily accessible, since 



one or more sides of the compartment are always 

 formed by roads or rides. 



