6 NEW HAMPSHIRE EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 255 



The acreage of each lot was computed from its size on the finished 

 map, and the total acreage for each class of cover was calculated. 

 These figures are recorded in Table 3. 



The estimate of the timber in the town is merely an approximation. 



Estimates of individual woodlots were not attempted, and, as only 

 5% of the trees were measured, approximate results are all that could 

 be expected. There was no table for the board foot volume of bushy, 

 old field pine, so these had to be disregarded. There is little timber 

 in them, so this is not much loss. The trees measured were in quarter 

 acre plots taken at random since no regular strips were run to space 

 them on. The lots themselves were so small and variable that accuracy 

 would have meant a long task, and since the estimate was a side-issue 

 of the survey, approximate results were acceptable. Selecting the plots 

 at random and measuring a low per cent, of the trees is not as hap- 

 hazard as it appears, for lots with the same density and age were 

 fairly uniform, and the stand was separately computed for each age 

 and density cla.ss. 



The volume of each tree measured was found for white pine from the 

 Massachusetts Mill Tally volume table, and for hardwoods from the 

 Eed Maple cordwood table of the Harvard Forest.* Adding the 

 volumes of the trees recorded gave the volume for the plot or quarter 

 acre. When this had been done for all plots, they were grouped by age 

 and density classes, and the average for each was found. This gave the 

 average stand per quarter acre. Multiplying by four, then, gave the 

 stand per acre. The acreage was taken from Table 3 and multiplied 

 by this figure to get the total stand of this class in the town. The totals 

 of the classes give the total stand of the town. The totals b}" classes 

 make up Table 4. 



The method in the field, then, was to select one block on the base map 

 with definite boundaries, and survey it by pacing with a hand compass. 

 Lines were paced passing all points which it was necessary to locate 

 accurately such as boundaries of lots, houses, brooks, fences, etc. At- 

 the same time a note was made on each lot on the map classifying it as 

 described below. If the lot had merchantable timber on it, quarter- 

 acre sample plots were taken covering five per cent, of the area (one 

 plot for every five acres), and recorded under the same class name. 



Definitions of Classes of Land 



In classifying the lots, six major types were recognized — hay land, 

 pasture, swamp and open water, hardwoods, gray birch and white pine. 



Hayland included all areas suitable for cutting hay, cultivation, or 

 higher uses, as orchards and houses. There were no subdivisions in 

 this type. 



Pasture covered all areas which would not cut hay and were less than 

 half covered by trees. This type was subdivided into open pasture, 

 devoid of trees, and wooded pasture. Some of the wooded pasture was 

 practically open, but had some tree growth on it. The open pasture 

 was not subdivided, but the wooded division was separated into 

 smaller classes by the age and density of the pine present. 



*Hawley & Hawes, "Manual of Forestry," John Wiley & Sons, 1918. 



