UNITS OF MEASURE 207 



lack of more accurate local volume tables which could have been easily 

 and cheaply obtained. (4) Failure, through lack of funds, to keep 

 abreast of scientific investigations and to contribute more to forest 

 science. 



But the French viewpoint is of great value to the American forester 

 even if the details of mensuration practice can rarely be used without 

 modification. 



Units of Measure. — The unit of measure for logs, piling, poles, and 

 props is the solid cubic meter- which contains 35.3 cubic feet or approxi- 

 mately 285 board feet log scale. 



Contrary to the general belief in the United States it is agreed in 

 France that there is much confusion because the cubic meter is not 

 used in a uniform manner, and one writer said : ^ 



"I defy two Frenchmon, living 12.5 miles apart, to understand each other when they 

 speak of cubic meters according to the usage of their locality even if they use the same 

 tariff." 



This confusion, due largely to different methods of measurement and 

 calculation, has led to the demand for a ''legal cubic meter" which 

 a committee defined as follows: 



"The volume of a log shall be equal to the volume of a cylinder having the circum- 

 ference of the log measured at its middle point to the nearest 2 centimeters (0.8 inch) 

 and its length measured to the nearest 20 centimeters (8 inches). The measurement 

 of the circumference shall be made with a melastic tape at right angles to the axes of 

 the log. . . . The volume (thus obtained) shall be called a legal ^ cubic meter." 



But to be complete there must be standard rules for reductions on 

 account of defect or irregularities. The following were proposed: (1) 

 Measure between knots or swellings. (2) Where a log becomes irregular 

 the purchaser can cut it off and remeasure. (3) Defect deductions to 

 be made by joint scale. (4) Logs with checks or lightning marks clear 

 to the heart can be rejected. (5) Logs must be at least 6.5 feet in length, 



Cordwood^ is measured by the stere, a stacked cubic meter, and 

 is usually cut in 1 meter (3.3 foot) lengths, and in statistical work it is 

 sufficiently accurate to count 1 solid cubic meter as yielding 1| steres of 



2 For a discussion of converting factors see the Introduction. Those who have much 

 converting to do should draw a converting-graph based on the best data obtainable for 

 the conversion problem in hand. 



3 Solide et Metre Cube, B., S . F . de F — C. et B., Sept. 7, 1908, J. Banchereau. 



■* An interesting comparison between the new and old French measures is given on 

 pages 14-19 of Carnet — Agenda du Forestier. Besangon, 1902. Paul Jacquin, Im- 

 primeur. It should be noted that in France logs are measured ovtside bark, while in 

 the United States log scaling is always wisw/e bark. 



^ See also classes of cordwood and saw timber given under "Sale of Timber," page 

 307. 



