164 THE FORMATION 
Kinds of Quadrats and Their Use 
201. Size and kinds. The unit size of quadrat is the meter, and when 
the term is used without qualificatien, it refers to the meter quadrat. To 
make them strictly comparable, and exactly divisible, unit quadrats are 
always grouped in squares; thus a major quadrat is a square of four units, 
and a perquadrat one of sixteen units, or four meters square. Quadrats of 
greater size are necessary in woodland and forest, where the rule, however, 
is that the woody plants alone are recorded for the whole quadrat, the her- 
baceous growth being listed or mapped for but one or two representative 
units. For special purposes, quadrats of 3, 5, 6, etc., meters may be used, 
but they are much less convenient. Quadrats are further distinguished with 
respect to their use. A list quadrat is one in which the plants are merely 
listed and the number of individuals of each species indicated. Chart 
quadrats are those in which the area concerned is accurately mapped on 
plotting paper. Both list and chart quadrats are rendered permanent by 
careful labeling, so that their changes can be followed from year to year. 
The greater value of the chart causes practically all permanent quadrats 
to be of this type, and for the same reason only permanent chart quadrats 
are converted into denuded ones. 
202. Tapes and stakes. The lines for marking out quadrats are made 
of strong white tape, 5/8 inches wide. This is doubled and sewed firmly 
at both edges. Under moderate stretching, the tape is carefully marked 
off into decimeters, and eyelets 5 mm. in diameter are set in at each end 
and at the marks. This can readily be done by any shoemaker at slight ex- 
pense. The usual lengths are one and two meters, as these are most 
frequently used, and they can also be easily combined to make larger 
quadrats. The tapes are slightly longer than one meter in order that the 
distance between the end eyelets may be exact. The tapes of the larger 
forest quadrats should be divided into lengths of one meter, as these permit 
ready plotting and also make it possible to interpolate a meter quadrat for 
the study of the undergrowth at any point. The intervals of the tape are 
numbered from left to right, as conspicuously and clearly as possible. For 
this a waterproof ink or paint is very desirable. For holding the tapes in 
position, hatpins, natls, and meat-skewers have been used with more or less 
satisfaction. The ideal stake, however, is one which holds the tape close 
to the ground, and can be readily moved. It is merely a stout wire, 3 mm. 
in diameter and 8 inches long, looped at the top, sharpened at the tip, and 
with a small ring of solder 3 inches from the tip. 
