272 TIMBER MEASURING 



2. Measurement of Standing Timber. 



The same general rules hold good as have been described 

 for the measurement of felled timber. But timber is never 

 measured with a purchaser while still standing ; it is merely 

 measured so that the vendor or an intending purchaser may 

 ascertain its value before a sale takes place, etc. Thus, with 

 a little experience, the orthodox method of measuring and 

 booking is often departed from ; but so long as a correct 

 valuation is arrived at, this does not matter. 



The girth, however, is taken at 4 or 5 feet from the 

 ground ; then an allowance is made for the " taper " of the 

 tree, so as to give the girth at half-way up the first length 

 that is being taken ; and then an allowance is made for bark 

 as already described. 



Now, the girth of standing timber is nearly always taken 

 with a leather "timber strap," which is marked so as to 

 directly read the quarter girth measurement (over bark). 



This strap should have a fixed iron hook on one end, so 

 that a man can girth a large tree single-handed by throwing 

 the strap round when the hook will catch on the bark. It is 

 very necessary that the strap be well seasoned and stretched 

 before it is marked ; otherwise, with use, it will stretch a great 

 deal and be very inaccurate ; the unmarked strap should be 

 wetted and hung up for several months with a heavy weight 

 attached to the end of it. 



The height or length of the tree, or any portion of it, is 

 usually guessed at the scientific height measurers never 

 being used for practical purposes. Sometimes timber poles 

 (marked with paint every 2 or 3 feet) are used, or a long 

 stick can be cut (say 12 or 14 feet long) and the feet notched 

 on, and this, if held up at arm's length by a man, will afford 

 the measurer a good guide as to the height of a tree. This 

 latter method is in common use even with those who have 

 had much experience in measuring standing timber ; but the 

 orthodox timber poles (perhaps 4 or 5 six-feet poles fitting 

 into each other) are only used by those whose experience is 

 very limited. Lengths, not reached by the pole, must be 



