194 A MANUAL FOR NORTHERN WOODSMEN 



To travel the boundaries of a square mile and twice 

 across it, taking quarter acres each 20 rods as determined 

 by pacing, gives about 2^ per cent of the area actually 

 covered by the estimate, and that percentage can be 

 relied upon to give, in land which has any regularity of 

 type, a close approximation to the truth. To do that 

 and what goes with it, section after section through a 

 township, is just about a fair day's work. 



The last two methods described as usually employed 

 are alike in this, that in the endeavor to get at a fair sample 

 of the country they depend mainly, on mechanical arrange- 

 ments rather than choice. This as a general rule is a 

 safe thing to do. There will always be enough things left 

 to exercise the best judgment of the estimator. On the 

 other hand, neither this nor any other system should be 

 followed blindly. If part of the tract is especially valua- 

 ble, especial pains should be taken with it. As a rule it 

 will be found safe to ascertain the area of such tracts and 



