SCALING PRACTICE BASED ON ME.\SUREMENT OF DIAMETER 97 



Abnormal Diameters. The practice of basing the scaling diameter on that of 

 the small end of the log, with its consequent disregard of taper, gives rise to diffi- 

 culties on 'ogs which taper rapidly at the small end, as for instance, rough or limby 

 logs on the basis of their top diameters may result in loss of scale when in reaUty 

 a gi-eater volume of the tree has been utilized. Fig. 12, p. 93. 



By the International i-inch rule this log would scale, in actual diameter 



Length. [ Scaling diameter. 

 Feet I Inches 



Scale. 

 Feet B.M. 



12 



Rigid adherence to the scaling practice on such logs results in the refusal of 

 contractors to cut them. There are two possible modifications of the end diameter 

 rule which will meet this condition: First, to scale the log as a shorter log, at the 

 point which will give the largest total scale, in the above instance at 12 feet giving 

 a scale of 70 board feet; second, to scale it as two logs, including the short tapering 

 portion as a separate piece from the main portion. In the above case, the 6-inch 

 top, with a length of 4 feet would add one-fourth of the scale of a 16-foot log of 

 that diameter, or 5 board feet, giving a total scale of 75 board feet. The latter 

 method is the most equitable, otherwise there is no object to the contractor in 

 going into the top to secure closer utilization. 



Abnormally large diameters, occurring at the small ends of logs are the result 

 of cross cutting through crotches or swellings caused by limbs, or by defects or 

 cankers. Such diameters must always be reduced to a size representing the normal 

 diameter of the cross section as determined by average taper. For shght .swellings 

 this is judged by eye. For crotches, the diameter at butt end is sometimes taken 

 and average taper deducted.^ 



84. Scaling Practice Based on Measurement of Diameter at Middle 

 of Log or Caliper Scale. Xone of the true board-foot log rules in common 

 use are applied at the middle of the log. By the Blodgett Rule, a cubic 

 rule expressed in board feet (§ 33) the log is usually measured in the 

 middle, outside the bark. When taper is taken on long logs by the ordi- 

 nary rules, the scaler depends upon his scale stick and ocular judgment 

 for the measurement of the upper diameters. But if logs are customarily 

 cut long, and must be scaled by getting actual taper rather than assumed 



1 The following court decisions are important as defining the bearing of the 

 "scale" on agreements: 



"In the absence of any agreed standard of measure in a contract, that of the 

 place where a commodity is purchased will govern the contract." Supreme Court 

 of New York, Dunberic vs. Spaubenberg, 121 N. Y. 299. 



"Where a contract involves the measurement of logs by specified rule, but 

 does not indicate the manner of measuring whether by end, average or middle 

 diameter, local custom shall determine such manner." Supreme Court of Louisiana, 

 13 So. 230. 



