10 MISC. PUBLICATION 11, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTUEE 



diiction — all Nvithoiit risk of a hiatus in the future production — can 

 often be made upon information y;athered in a rather extensive sur- 

 vey of (he area involved. 



The following is an outline of information needed as a basis for 

 a simple plan : 



1. PHYSUHIKAI'IIIC FEATURES 



The topography, soil, and climate in the workin<ij circle have a 

 direct bearin<j: on the reproduction, <^rowth, and utilization of the 

 timber stand, and these natural factors should be analyzed in this 

 relationship and all important features ascertained and recorded. 

 Topographic features will, of course, be shown on the map. 



2. FOREST STAND 



The essential information needed is: 



(a) The location, boundaries, area, composition, and condition of 

 each of the commercial forest types in the working circle. 



(h) The location, area, composition, and merchantable volume of 

 stands of timber that are likely to be considered for cutting in the 

 first cutting cycle. 



(c) The proi)ortion of the various age classes (in the case of partial 

 cutting) in the timber stands l)y area, by volume, and by number of 

 stems. This information may require the preparation of stock and 

 stand tables for each type, though sometimes a good estimate based 

 upon a few Mell-chosen sample plots will meet all immediate needs. 



(d) A knowledge of the rate of growth to be ex])ected per acre 

 after the removal (in the case of partial cutting) of the mature timber 

 according to the marking policy. For immediate practical purposes 

 growth data based on systematically taken increment borings will 

 serve until more accurate and complete figures are obtained from 

 extended studies. 



Data concerning the location, boundaries, area, < omposition, con- 

 dition, and volume of timber stands should be so taken in the field 

 that they may lie recorded by compartments. 



3. THE UTir.IZATION SITUATION 



In many cases, particularly in the national forests, the management 

 of the timber resources for the next 10 years or longer will be gov- 

 erened by the possibilities of profitable utilization. It is essential, 

 therefore, that the forester analyze this side of the general situation 

 witli considerable care. The judgment of a first-class logging engi- 

 neer is of value in this analysis. A systematic study should cover 

 such points as: Products to l)e disposed of, local and general markets, 

 responsibility to local industries and coinnumities, transportation 

 facilities, methods of logging, labor supply, freight rates, effect of 

 competing stumpage, possibility of correlated industries, etc. This 

 infoi-mation is used also in formulating the business policy to govern 

 the disposition of the products of the working circle. Frequently, 

 a brief statistical statement of the cut on the working circle during 

 each of the last 10 years indicates the amount and steadiness of the 

 present market demands. 



