44 FOREST 



Where the trees on the strip are calipered the estimate of mer- 

 chantable timber is restricted to the strip. The same is quite 

 generally true in ocular estimate, for the sampling requires orderly 

 procedure. But the description does not tie itself to the strip but 

 covers all the territory clearly seen from the line, a much larger 

 per cent of area. 



In all wild woods survey the matter is complicated by special 

 conditions. Thus clumps of old trees, containing large amounts of 

 good timber may occur off the strip in the midst of a stand of 

 sapling or pole stuff. If these clumps are not examined and esti- 

 mated, the entire forty may be reported as being without any 

 merchantable timber whereas in fact it may contain a great deal. 

 Similarly cases of bare ground, burns, swamps, windfall, etc., require 

 a departure from the regular program and a special survey to ascer- 

 tain the extent of such a burn, etc., is necessary in good work. Just 

 where the limit should be to which this may be carried in any given 

 case, depends on the use which is to be made of the information, 

 and the value of land and timber, or the property to be examined. 

 Thus far the error has generally been made on the side of economy, 

 and certainly a detail survey reporting a forty as having no mer- 

 chantable stuff when in truth it has half a million feet, is sacrificing 

 too much to system and instructions. 



From the foregoing it is apparent that the work should not be 

 too mechanical, should adapt itself to the conditions, and in every 

 case it should cover the ground sufficiently to avoid gross mistakes. 

 Where stumpage exceeds $6.00 per M. ft. ; where the timber runs 

 500 ft. and better per tree, and 10 M., or over, per acre, and 

 especially where the estimate is to serve as basis of purchase of the 

 property, it pays to count all trees and estimate or measure their 

 diameter. 



Crew and Results. The old-time "cruiser" usually went alone, 

 kept course, and distance and did the estimating. Later on a corn- 

 passman was added as helper, to keep course and distance. The 

 caliper crew usually consists of four men ; compassman, tallyman 

 and two calipermen. Here the compassman keeps course and maps ; 

 the tallyman keeps tally and describes timber, the calipermen caliper 

 the timber above certain diameter on the four-rod strip. Of late 

 there is a return to the two men crew, with pacing and estimating 



