CHAPTER II. 



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 

 COMPARTMENTS. 



After the formation of the compartments comes their exami- 

 nation, and simultaneously with this the detailed description of each, 

 which is noted down at once in a book. The object of this operation is 

 to ascertain the condition of each compartment, and, as far as that is 

 possible, the causes that have produced this condition, so that from 

 the data thus obtained, the Amdnagiste may be able to form a cor- 

 rect judgment regarding the future promise held out by the standing 

 crop and the treatment that suits it best. Hence the expediency of 

 describing separately the climate, soil and standing stock. 



In connection with the present subject we are concerned with 

 only the local climatic conditions'of any particular compartment. To 

 describe it fully, it is sufficient to note the situation, and, where the 

 necessity exists, the aspect. 



As regards elevation we are here seldom concerned with the 

 idea of height in its absolute sense, but always and to a very great 

 extent, with relative height as compared with the surroundino" 

 ground. Thus the upper portion of a slope possesses a very differ- 

 ent situation from that of the lower portion of the same slope. Ao-ain 

 the elevation being the same, the situations may nevertheless be 

 entirely different, if one place is on the top of a ridge and the other 

 forms the bottom of a valley. 



In noting aspect, the slope or gradient, which is the measure 

 of its influence and a cause of variation in its effects, should also be 

 given. In most cases it is easy to describe the slope by^means of a 

 single word. In order to do this clearly and so as to expressjdegrees 

 of comparison, the following conventional gradations may be 

 adopted. 



