THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORKING PLANS 27 



estimating practised by the Federal Forest Service since 1907 

 is probably the best.* 



Topographic Notes. — Besides the timber estimating, it is 

 a valuable feature of all strip surveys that the opportunity is 

 offered to get excellent data on topographic features. 



The estimator or tallyman carries an aneroid barometer 

 and notes the elevation at each stream, divide, or similar feature; 

 also at each corner to which he ties. Streams, ridges, roads, 

 trails, etc., are sketched by him in a suitable note-book so as 

 to show the exact point at which these features were crossed 

 and their trend for a short distance to either side of the survey 

 line. The same method applies to burned and cut-over areas. 

 The boundaries of these and of the forest t}^es should be noted 

 where they are crossed and their trend for a short distance to 

 either side of the survey line. These data should be sketched 

 in on blanks or note-books provided for the purpose. 



Time of (Survey and Estimate. — The " field season " — i.e., 

 that season when field work can be accomplished with the 

 minimum of climatic difficulties — is usually the best for the work 

 of estimating and mapping. In mountainous countries and in 

 northern latitudes, this means the summer months; in southern 

 latitudes winter is often preferable because of the excessive 

 summer heat. Even in mountain regions the winter season may 

 sometimes be chosen because the forest personnel is usually less 

 heavily burdened with work in winter than in summer. That 

 winter work is entirely feasible, if snowshoes or skis are used, 

 is demonstrated by the winter reconnaissance in certain mountain 

 forests of California. f One advantage of winter work is the 

 ease with which the compassman's tracks can be followed by 



* For detailed description see " The New Reconnaissance," Proceedings 

 Society of American Foresters, Vol. IV, No. i. Reprinted Yale Publishing 

 Association, 1909. See also, for practical workings, cost, etc., " The Progress of 

 Reconnaissance," F. Q., Vol. VIII, No. 4, pp. 415 to 418. 



t See " Winter Reconnaissance in Califomian Mountains," R. F. Hammatt, 

 F. Q., Vol. IX, No. 4, pp. 557-562. Also " Winter Reconnaissance in the 

 Rocky Mountains," G. Z. Mason, F. Q., Vol. XI, No. 4, pp. 516-518. 



