xviii INTRODUCTION 



1 gram = 0.03527 ounce (avoirdupois) 



1 gram = 0.03215 ounce (Troy) 



1 kilogram = 2.20462 pounds (avoirdupois) 



1 kilogram = 2.67923 pounds (Troy) 



1 franc = 19.3 cents (normal rate) 



1 stere ^ = 0.277 cord (3.6 steres = 1 cord) 



1 cubic meter (au reel) = 285 board feet (mfg.) 



1 cubic meter (mfg.) = 420 board feet (mfg.) 



These are exact equivalents and can be changed back to the metric 

 system without error, with the exception of the board feet equivalent 

 which varies with the size of the timber, method of manufacture, and 

 product. A cubic meter in large logs yields more board feet than from 

 small logs; a mill ecjuipped with a band saw yields more per cubic meter 

 than does a wasteful circular saw; and if logs are cut into large dimension 

 stuff, or ties, the yield from a cubic meter is higher than if the product is 

 inch boards. The only authoritative data on the ratio between cubic 

 meters (au reel) on the stump and board feet are those secured by the 

 U. S. Army during 1917-19. In the Landes where the American mills 

 equipped with circular saws cut 148,585 cubic meters the product was 

 41,437,304 board feet, mill tally, or 278 board feet to one cubic meter. 

 The ratio varied from a minimum of 227 board feet at Sabres to 287 at 

 Candale. For general calculations it may be said that 3^ to 4| cubic 

 meters of standing maritime pine is equal to a thousand board feet. In 

 the Jura silver-fir stands 144,203 cubic meters yielded 43,639,876 board 

 feet, or 303 board feet to the cubic meter. Here the timber was larger 

 than in the Landes. At one sawmill (Morteau) a cubic meter averaged 

 383 board feet, at Mouthe only 311. In round figures it takes 2| to 3| 

 cubic meters of silver fir to cut a thousand board feet. For general com- 

 putations it would be safe to count 4 cubic meters of maritime pine or 3 

 cubic meters of silver fir to the thousand board feet. In the Dijon hard- 

 wood belt it was found that 319 board feet were secured from the average 

 cubic meter, or 3 to the thousand. As an average converting factor for 

 all saw timber logs in France 3h cubic meters to the thousand is suggested, 

 and for different sized timber, the following: 



Small timber 4^ to 1,000 board feet 



Medium timber 4 to 1,000 board feet 



Average timber 3^0 1,000 board feet 



Large timber 3 to 1,000 board feet 



Very large timber 2i to 1,000 board feet 



When dealing with stands, from 10 to 40 per cent must be deducted for 

 fuel. 



* In his statistical work (Notes sur les Forets de I'Algerie) Marc took 3 steres of fuel 

 to 2 cubic meters, 50 poles to 1.30 cubic meters, ties at their full volume less 30 per cent. 

 He counted 1 cubic meter as 750 kilos and 12 steres to one ton of charcoal. 



