262 On Measuring growing Timber, 



passing over small sheaves fixed for the purpose. A tubular 

 handle is fixed below the point where the fixed tangent and 

 scale arm join ; into which a long pole being inserted, it is applied 

 to the part of the tree at which the quarter girt is wanted : 

 being light and easily managed, it can be sent up to any 

 height; and, by drawing the movable tangent arm by means of 

 the cord attached to it, the tree can thus be embraced within 

 the three sides of a parallelogram ; and, the scale arm being 

 divided in such a manner as to show the inches and parts of the 

 quarter girt, with allowance for the bark, it is thus ascertained 

 at once. The height is taken in the usual manner, with small 

 rods, in 5 ft. or 10 ft. lengths, fitted to each other by tubes of 

 tin ; and, while one assistant is applying the gauge, another is 

 applying the rods. The principal directs and checks both, and 

 marks them down in regular columns for the quarter girt and 

 height respectively, leaving a blank column for the solid contents 

 to be extended by means of a ready reckoner ; and such is the 

 despatch, that a surveyor, with two experienced assistants, would 

 gauge all the growing timber in Kensington Gardens in a few 

 days, nearly as fast as he would examine and estimate them, 

 tree by tree, with the eye. 1 mean the boles, and not the branch 

 timber. 



The scale for the quarter girt is marked upon the under 

 side, that it can be read off without brino-inff it down, so that 

 various pomts may be taken, if wanted. Upon the upper side of 

 this arm three other scales are marked : one shows the circum- 

 ference, a second shows the diameter, and the third shows the 

 quarter girt, without allowance for the bark. The use of the 

 latter being, that, in any particular cases when the bark is either 

 very thick or very thin, a different allowance may be made from 

 the average one. It is also useful in gauging peeled timber 

 when lying upon its side, as it does it much quicker than a cord 

 or tape. The diameter and circumference scales are useful for 

 ascertaining the fitness of a growing tree for any given purpose, 

 at the height or length wanted. None of these scales are calcu- 

 lated so as to allow for the bark. 



It will be necessary to observe, that, as the scales are all cal- 

 culated on the principle that growing timber is truly cylindrical, 

 and as it seldom happens that such is the case, the dimensions 

 thus taken will not be exactly the same as by the usual manner 

 with the cord, but are generally somewhat less. On the other 

 hand, as the gauge can always be applied so as to give the 

 dimensions in the manner it may be wanted to be squared up, it 

 can thus give them more truly for that purpose ; but, generally, 

 unless in extreme cases, the difference between the cord and 

 gauge is not more than between two practical measurers, or the 

 same person at different limes. 



