A FOREST WORKING PLAN. 453 



the top diameter is not just", and would cause a serious loss to the State on 

 account of the large amount of taper from the butt diameter to the top diameter. 



When timber is in such a position that the thirteen-foot points are not accessible, 

 as when rolled in skidways, every log should be measured at each end and the 

 average of the two measurements taken as the diameter. 



The customary rule of accepting the diameter of logs at the nearest full inch 

 above or below the actual diameter may be followed on these tracts. 



No pine logs should be allowed to be culled or left in the woods that will 

 yield twenty-five per cent or over of sound, merchantable timber. Such logs 

 should be scaled and taken at their actual merchantable value, both the end area 

 and the length of the log being taken into consideration in calculating the contents. 



Merchantable timber in pine should be construed to be timber that will yield 

 sound lumber of the minimum length of ten feet. 



Spruce and balsam timber should be scaled and taken at its actual merchant- 

 able value whenever twenty-five per cent of its total scale is timber fit for 

 merchantable pulpwood. 



These rules are essential in order that the State may not be the loser by 

 careless or inefficient cutting, since much valuable timber is often wasted by slov- 

 enly work, more especially in cutting pine. The incorporation of these rules in 

 a contract will do away with much of the careless and wasteful methods of 

 cutting timber. 



The scalers should be in the employ of the State, and the number employed 

 should be determined by the amount of lumbering going on. The scalers can be 

 of great assistance to the inspector by acting as assistant inspectors, and aiding 

 him in seeing that the rules prescribed for lumbering are properly carried out. 

 They should be selected wholly with reference to their impartiality, capability, 

 and reliability, and should be directly responsible to the inspector in charge of 

 the lumbering operations. 



Rules to Be Embodied in a Lumbering Contract. 



The following rules should be incorporated in any contract made for the 

 removal of timber from Townships 5, 6 and 41. A thorough supervision by 

 trained and experienced men is absolutely essential to good results in the appli-' 

 cation of these rules. 



1. All timber shall be cut with a saw whenever practicable. 



2. No timber shall be cut in the reserve strips except with the approval of 

 an inspector. 



