268 TIMBER MEASURING 



A curved " needle," somewhat like a sickle with a hooked 

 end, is passed under the log at the place where the girth is 

 required ; the string is then caught on the hook and pulled 

 under the log; and the girth is then found by pulling the 

 string tight to a knot, which should have been previously tied 

 in the string at one end. Then the knotted end is let go of, 

 and the man, taking the girth, pulls the string away from 

 the log without releasing his fingers from the place on the 

 string where the free end met the knot on the other end. 

 The string is then folded into four equal lengths, and then 

 stretched along an ordinary 2-foot rule ; and the quarter 

 girth thus read off. Then an allowance for bark is made ; 

 and the quarter girth measurement, under bark, is booked 

 next to the length of which it is the quarter girth. The 

 quarter girths are usually measured to the nearest \ inch. 



Occasionally a discussion will arise as to whether a thick 

 or thin string should be used in girthing. When a thick 

 string is used there will be a loss of measurement at each 

 bend in the string as it is folded into four. 



In practice a piece of whip cord is used ; for very thin 

 string would constantly be breaking. 



As a matter of fact, there is very little difference between 

 the use of thick and thin string when girthing rough barked 

 trees, as the thin string fits more closely into the crevices in 

 the bark. But when smooth barked trees, such as Beech, 

 are being measured, the use of thick string involves a distinct 

 loss to the vendor. 



Fraudulent girthing. There are two common means 

 whereby a land agent or forester may be deceived, if the 

 girthing is being done by an unscrupulous purchaser or his 

 agent. 



1. The string may be unduly stretched in girthing, and 



the free end of the string not brought right over to 

 the knot. 



2. Not including a length of string equal to the full girth 



when the string is being folded into four. 

 As regards the first device, it is, of course, perfectly 

 correct to pull the string tight ; but there is a great deal of 



