194 The Farm Woodlot 



localities to 1000 feet in others, it is absolutely necessary 

 that each locality have a factor of its own for no general 

 factor will do. This conversion factor is obtained by 

 scaling many logs before they are cut up and corded, 

 and taking the average. The pulp companies of New 

 England in buying spruce usually consider a cord equal 

 to 560 board feet. Two cords to the thousand is as nearly 

 a general statement as can be made, and that, in many 

 cases, is very far from the truth. 



The nineteen-inch standard in the Adirondacks is 

 roughly considered equivalent to one-third of a cord. A 

 double cord is a pile of eight-foot sticks four feet high and 

 eight feet long. It is a very common unit in handling 

 pulp wood. 



THE HEIGHT OF A TREE 



The total height of a tree is of little importance to the 

 farmer, but he should be able to measure the clear length 

 and merchantable length of a standing tree. There are 

 several finely adjusted and expensive instruments that 

 give very accurate results, but these are not necessary 

 for ordinary woodlot work. A cheap, homemade instru- 

 ment will give sufficiently accurate results. 



Take two strips of wood about a quarter of an inch 

 thick and an inch wide, — the top of a grape basket will 

 be good enough material, — one four and a half and one 

 six inches long. Tack these together so as to form a right 

 angle. Connect the two loose ends with a third strip. 

 Beginning at the right angle, measure off a half inch on 

 the short strip. Drive a small wire nail into the edge of 

 the strip at this point and at points one and a half, two 

 and a half, three and a half, and four and a half inches 



