92 



FOREST MENSURATION 



Appalachians, cordwood cut for pulpwood, fuelwood, or distillation 

 purposes is generally cut to 5' instead of 4' lengths, thus making a 

 cord 160 cubic feet, gross measure. A face cord is one which is 8' 

 long, 4' high, and made up of pieces 12" to 20" or more long. It is 

 generally used for measuring stove, fireplace, or furnace wood. 



The following are the equivalents generally recognized in forestry 

 practice. 



SIZE 



4' x 4' x 8' 



7" x 9" x 9' 



UNITS 



1 cord of wood 

 1 railroad tie 

 1 cubic foot 

 1 post 



1 pole or pile 

 1 converter pole 

 6 pieces lagging 



4"x5"x7' 

 8" top x 35' long 

 4" top x 20' long 

 3" top x 20' long 



EQUIVALENT IN BOARD FEET 



500 



331/3 



4to8 



3 



100 

 10 

 10 



FIG. 47. A forester determining the age of a tree with an increment borer. A 

 radial section taken across the annual growth rings discloses the age as well as 

 the rate at which the tree is growing at different periods of its life. Well man- 

 aged stands may grow at the rate of 200 to 1000 board feet per acre or more 



per annum. 



3. INSTRUMENTS COMMONLY USED 



The principal instrument for measuring diameters of standing tim- 

 ber is the caliper. The diameter tape and the Biltmore stick are also 

 used. Diameters are measured at breast height or 41/2' above the 

 ground. For measuring heights, instruments known as hypsometers 

 are employed. Tapes and poles are used for measuring lengths of 



