258 FELLING AND CONVERSION OF TIMBER. 



and the dimensions of the timber form the chief guide for 

 classifying coniferous wood. As regards dimensions, the logs 

 may be classified according to the raid-diameter, or to the 

 small-end diameter. In no other case has the latter so impor- 

 tant a bearing on the value of the timber, as in coniferous 

 logs, and accordingly in many districts of South Germany the 

 classification is so arranged. The mere volume of the logs is 

 a bad index of their comparative value. 



In accordance with the Heilbron classification, which is 

 almost everywhere preferred by the German timber-trade, 

 coniferous logs are classed as follows : 



Class. Length. Diameter at small end. 



M. Ft. CM. Ins. 



I. 18 = 58, and over, 30 12 



II. 1618 = 5258 22 9 



III. 1416 = 4552 17 7 



IV. 1014 = 3245 14 5 

 V. up to 10 32 12 4| 



All the timber must be sound and free from branches ; 

 rough but sound timber goes down a class. The diameters 

 are measured under bark. 



Classes lower than V. comprise ordinary or inferior building- 

 timber, rafters, fencing rails, pulp-wood and pit-props. In 

 Bavaria, a sixth class, with at least 6 cm. (2J inches) diameter 

 at small end, is added. 



If the wood is classified by mid-diameter the classes are as 

 follows : 



Class. Mid-diameter. 



I. and II. 35 cm. and more, 14 inches. 



III. 2535 1014 



IV. 2025 810 

 V. under 20 8 



iii. Remaining Species. 



Broadleaved trees, other than oak, do not yield much 

 marketable timber ; the exceptions to this rule are, elm, ash, 

 alder and aspen. [Willow, sweet-chestnut and sycamore are 

 valuable in Britain. Tr.] In many cases each of these 



