A FOREST WORKING PLAN. 



445 



only hold good upon trees which were but slightly affected near the roots, while 

 upon all sound trees cut in this manner there would be an entirely unnecessary 

 loss. It will readily be seen that a foot in length of clear timber in the butt of 

 a tree, where the diameter runs from fourteen to thirty inches, is worth several 

 feet of timber in the top of the tree. Moreover, the clearest and best timber is 

 found in the butt, and the smallest, most knotty and least valuable in the top. 



An arbitrary height of stump for cutting trees cannot be fixed to suit all 

 conditions. The cutting point must depend upon the locality and the position 

 in which the tree stands with reference to other trees, rocks, fallen timber and 

 other obstacles; but it is recommended that no cutting more than six inches 

 above the top of the root swelling be allowed on these townships, unless it is 

 absolutely necessary on account of some obstruction. 



The following figures were taken by experienced men on Townships 40 and 39 

 during the summer of 1900, and will furnish reliable information of the compara- 

 tive differences in diameter of spruce at breastheight (four and a half feet from the 

 ground), at the top of the root swelling, and at the lowest practical cutting 

 point, from ten inches in diameter at breastheight up to thirty inches. It is the 

 result of careful measurements of over 2,600 trees, taken with reference to natural 

 obstacles, to determine the lowest practical cutting point. They may be relied 

 upon for spruce on these townships, which adjoin the tracts from which the 

 figures were taken. The table explains itself. 



TABLE OF COMPARATIVE AVERAGE DIAMETERS OF SPRUCE. 



At breastheight, 



4K feet 

 from the ground. 



At lowest 



practicable 



cutting point. 



At top of 

 root swelling. 



At breastheight, 



4K feet 

 from the ground. 



At lowest 



practicable 



cutting point. 



At top of 

 root swelling. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



10 



11. 9 



13.0 



21 



24.I 



25-9 



II 



13.0 



14. 1 



22 



25-3 



27.1 



12 



14. 1 



15-3 



23 



26.4 



28.2 



13 



15-2 



16. s 



24 



27-5 



29.4 



14 



16.3 



17.7 



25 



28.6 



30.6 



IS 



17.4 



18.8 



26 



29.7 



31-7 



16 



18. 5 



20.0 



27 



30.9 



32.9 



17 



19.7 



21.2 



28 



32.0 . 



34-0 



18 



20.8 



22.4 



29 



33-1 



35-2 



19 



21.9 



23-5 



30 



34-2 



36.4 



20 



23.0 



24.7 









