148 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



crown commences. It can be guessed with fair 

 accuracy by placing a measured rod against 

 the lower part of the bole. After this has been 

 done with care in a certain number of trees 

 the eye becomes accustomed to the average 

 height of the trees in the wood. 



The girth of a tree can be found by girthing 

 it at 5 feet from the ground and forming an 

 estimate of the allowance to be made for bark 

 and for the taper of the tree from 5 feet above 

 the ground to the spot that is half of the height. 

 In a larch wood where the trees are of less than 

 fifty years' growth one inch off the quarter- 

 girth at 5 feet is generally sufficient, that is, 

 \ inch for bark and \ inch for taper. Also a 

 fairly accurate estimate of the taper can be 

 made if the tape has a hook at one end and 

 with the help of a long stick is swung round 

 the tree 10 or 12 feet above the ground. The 

 rate of diminution of circumference from the 

 ground to 10 or 12 feet of height is a fair guide 

 to the diminution from the ground to a point 

 half way up the tree. 



All estimations of height and quarter-girth of 

 standing timber should, if possible, be checked 

 by careful measurements of sample trees after 

 they have been felled. 



