CHAPTER XVI. 

 MEASUREMENT OF TIMBER. 



THERE is, of course, a theoretical method of measur- 

 ing timber, but the mathematician would fail to satisfy 

 the parties interested unless he added to his know- 

 ledge of mixed mathematics the practical knowledge 

 gained only in the woods. The mathematician would 

 by his process accurately determine the solid contents 

 of the trees, but what is required is the saleable con- 

 tents ; and we shall endeavour to show that there is a 

 considerable difference between the two. We propose 

 confining our remarks to the measurement of round 

 timber, for, as we have before stated, the conversion of 

 timber belongs to another line of business. True, we 

 could, under the head of forestry, easily and correctly 

 merge the two ; but we fail to see the necessity or 

 expediency of so doing. 



If the timber is sold it passes into the hands of the 

 timber merchant or contractor, who converts it to suit 

 his purposes ; if it passes by transfer into the hands of 

 the clerk of the works, he also converts it ; the land 

 agent's or forester's duty is complete when he has 

 obtained from one source or the other the value of the 

 round or hewn tree. 



