92 Forest Club Annual 



station number, which is retained on the rough map draft made 

 in the forest, but omitted in the finished map. Thus later the 

 place where any particular plot was taken can be located pre- 

 cisely on the rough map draft. This is essential especially where 

 two or more types of forest are found on the same sale area, 

 as the types can be indicated from the sample plot sheets on the 

 finished map. Each sample plot should be recorded on a separate 

 sheet in order that the sheets may be grouped according to types 

 or for other reasons. 



Shape and Size of Plots. A circular plot, if no larger than 

 one acre, can be laid off roughly more readily than plots of other 

 shapes. The boundary of circular plots is shorter than that of 

 other shaped plots for the area enclosed. Although the shape 

 of the plot is not essential the circular one has been found more 

 convenient. 



Plots of less than one-fourth acre, except for seedling and 

 sapling counts, are neither necessary nor advisable. The larger 

 the plot is the better, in many respects. But a practical one- 

 man method demands that the plots be quite small, especially 

 in the denser stands, in order that one may not become confused 

 when he records the diameters of the trees, which time may not 

 permit being marked by a timber scribe. 



One-sixteenth acre plots (roughly with 29 foot radius) are 

 often as large as is expedient for the enumeration of seedlings 

 and saplings, especially if they are moderately plentiful. Where 

 this class of stock is very sparse a one-fourth acre plot is equally 

 expeditious and of course better. In rare cases the seedlings 

 are so plentiful that only 100 square feet (10 feet square) in 

 each plot is advisable, while the saplings may be counted on a 

 larger plot. 



One-fourth acre (radius nearly 59 feet) plots have given 

 satisfactory results in dense stands of such species as Engelmann. 

 Spruce, Lodgepole Pine and Douglas Fir, and occasionally in 

 the denser stands of Western Yellow Pine. 



One-half acre (radius approximately 83 feet) plots may 

 be used in the more open stands of the above and other species. 



One acre (radius about 118 feet) plots may be used in very 

 open stands where there is no difficulty in seeing distinctly from 

 the center to the perimeter. 



Percentage of Total Area in Sample Plot.?. No estimate of 

 timber on a sale area should ordinarily be based on plots that do 



