68 REPORT OF THE 



tracts. The average volume of individual trees troubled him as the trees were 

 taller on some tracts than on others. In the matter of estimating defective material 

 he had to largely " go it blind," while his judgment of area was likely to be greatly 

 at fault. 



This method has fortunately been superseded by better ones, though it is still 

 frequently used by woodsmen and timber merchants ; foresters also sometimes 

 resort to it to ascertain the volume upon an area unit — the acre for example — 

 while from such estimates the quantity of timber in the whole forest is determined. 



THE CIRCLE METHOD. 



The circle method consists in estimating the timber on numerous quarter-acre 

 areas in the forest. A quarter-acre circle has a radius of 58.86 feet. To ascertain, 

 then, the quantity of timber on a quarter of an acre it is necessary only for the esti- 

 mator to stand in the woods and count the trees within a radius of twenty yards, a 

 distance which he can with a little practice easily estimate. These sample areas 

 rnay be chosen in straight lines through the forest, and placed at equal distances by 

 pacing ; or they may be chosen irregularly, in which case the estimator should 

 guard against the temptation to follow the best timber. The areas should be chosen 

 so as to give a good general average as to quantity, quality, species, etc. From 

 these sample areas is figured, then, the average quantity of timber per acre, which 

 when multiplied by the number of acres gives the estimate for the whole forest. 



This method was employed on the work of the Forest, Fish and Game Com- 

 mission in igco in estimating the timber on townships 12 in Essex County, and 21 

 and 27 in Franklin County. The accompanying map showing the location of the 

 circles will give an idea of the manner in which this work was done. 



The method is very useful when a large tract of timber is to be estimated in a 

 short time, as is frequently necessary on time options. It is applicable also where 

 the value of the timber will not warrant the time required for actual measurement. 

 Otherwise measurement should be employed. 



It should be stated, however, that in a suit against the State concerning certain 

 timber on township 21, the plaintiff, not satisfied with the estimate by this method, 

 had all the trees measured, with a result giving the quantity of timber practically 

 the same as that estimated by the circle method. 



THE STRIP METHOD. 



This method v/as first employed by Zanthier, a German forester, about the year 

 1760. It consists in going through the forest at regular intervals, taking a narrow 



