CREW AND RESULTS 45 



in place of chaining and calipering. As in the covering of the 

 ground, it is doubtful if any one set form of crew should be used in 

 all kinds of timber. The four men caliper crew, without doubt, is 

 the most competent, accurate and reliable, especially where inex- 

 perienced help must be employed. 



These crews commonly do not finish any particular forty, but 

 go one, two, or even more miles in one direction, i. e., through 

 several sections and then offset and return. With ordinary compass 

 and on rough ground this is a questionable practice ; the crew is 

 almost sure to get off the intended line, and it is not uncommon 

 for a less experienced crew to miss the forty entirely. 



On eas)' ground and in uniform timber a crew covers about 

 two miles of strip, and thus measures sixteen acres of strip, so that, 

 on a io% cover, it finishes one section every four days, at an 

 expense of about eight cents per acre. On rough ground and in 

 brushy timber, the cost increases 50-100%. 



2. The Information and its Record. 



The examination of a forty or lot involves usually two rather 

 distinct parts : 



The estimate or measure and tally of the merchantable timber, 

 and 



The description of site (soil, etc.) and forest growth or 

 growing stock, this latter usually including notes with regard to the 

 condition, quality, age, thrift, etc., of the merchantable material as 

 well as the rest of the tree growth. 



Of these two, the description is of more importance in regular 

 forestry, takes more preparation, knowledge and time. The estimate 

 or tally is primarily a record of dimensions taken by species. In 

 timber under 12" the record may well be arranged by diameter 

 classes of one inch ; in larger timber the record is sufficiently accu- 

 rate if taken by 2" ; and in timber over 20" d. b. h. 3" diameter 

 classes are permissible. 



In the earlier eflforts it was thought best to reduce the amount 

 of information to be gathered, to as few simple points as possible, 

 and thus gain in speed or economy. Accordingly the printed forms 

 had but few columns ; each column covered a variety of points with- 

 out clearly asking one definite question, and a good deal was left 

 to the column of "remarks". The man in the field was in doubt. 



