72 NOTES ON FORESTRY. 



marches always upon the nearest tree in the general 

 direction. 



After some days at this work, it will generally 

 be found that the proportion of tree diameter to 

 ground area varies so little in forests of the same 

 class, that the relation may be set down as a known 

 quantity say as I 2 to 16 2 or 20 2 or 24 2 ; and 

 having determined this relation, it is only necessary 

 to take- the diameters to determine the proportion 

 of trees in each class, and the height for the cubic 

 contents. Of course the form figure must be de- 

 termined for this, as for the more precise method. 



In this manner every Divisional officer might in 

 two years get such a good general idea of the state 

 of his growing stock as would afford a fair basis 

 for a working-plan, and more precise stock-taking 

 might be left until the specially-appointed valuation 

 staff had leisure to take it up. 



