MEASUREMENT OF TIMBER 193 



the heading for the given quarter-girth and opposite the given 

 length of the log. 



If the log is not symmetrical but is irregular, each part of 

 it is measured separately as if it was a different log, and the 

 volumes of the different parts are added together to get the 

 volume of the whole tree. 



Care must be taken in taking the girth to pull the string 

 tight, though not stretching it, and to see that it goes straight 

 round the log, as a half-inch more or less on the quarter-girth 

 makes a considerable difference to the measurement of a long 

 log. A tape with quarter-girth marked on the back can be 

 used, but the string is more convenient and is even more 

 accurate ; moreover, tapes soon get worn out if large numbers 

 of logs are measured. Whatever method is used, all timber 

 on the estate should be measured on the same system, as 

 timber merchants can then rely on the figures and can fix 

 their prices accordingly. 



Branch wood and small stuff is usually measured by the 

 cord of 128 stacked cubic feet. The converted wood is 

 ranked up, and the number of stacked cubic feet is ascer- 

 tained by multiplying together the length, width, and height 

 of the stack. Thus in some parts of the country firewood is 

 cut into lengths of 2 feet 2 inches and is ranked up into stacks 

 2 feet 2 inches wide, 2 feet 2 inches high, and 27 feet 4 inches 

 long. Such a stack contains : 

 2^ x 2^ x 273- =128 cubic feet stacked, that is, including air. 



Such a stack would contain between 60 and 75 cubic feet 

 of solid wood, according to the size of the sticks and closeness 

 of stacking. 



When selling felled timber it is more satisfactory to measure 

 it with the purchaser's measurer, as any difference can then 

 be settled on the spot. Where the logs are irregular two men 

 will seldom get the cubic contents exactly the same, and it 

 saves future disputes if a representative of both seller and 

 buyer measure it together. 



