90) THE WOODSMAN’S HANDBOOK. 
Conversion of Cubic Measure into Board Measure. 
The ratio between the number of beard feet and cubic feet in logs 
depends on the species of tree, on the size of the logs, and on the 
method of scaling. The ratio for standing trees depends, further, 
on the minimum size of the merchantable log. For example, the 
ratio would be different, if 4 logs were cut from a tree, from the 
result if only 3 logs were taken. Satisfactory figures can, there- 
fore, be obtained only by comparing the scales of logs and trees 
actually measured in the woods. Such tables are now being 
prepared by the Bureau of Forestry for different species in dif- 
ferent regions. They will appear in a subsequent edition of the 
Handbook. 
MEASUREMENT OF SAWED LUMBER. 
BOARD MEASURE. 
The superficial measure of inch boards is obtained by multi- 
plying the width in inches by the length in feet and dividing by 
12. Tables showing the contents of boards of different widths and 
lengths are published in practically every lumberman’s ready 
reckoner, of which there are many on the market. 
The contents of boards thicker than 1 inch are obtained by 
multiplying the width in inches by the thickness in inches and 
the product by the length in feet, and then dividing by 12. 
MEASUREMENT OF STANDING TREES. 
VOLUME TABLES. 
Volume tables show the contents of standing trees in board 
feet, cords, standards, and cubic feet. They are used to aid cruis- 
ers in estimating the anveunt of standing timber. 
In estimating timber it is the custom to first determine the 
number of merchantable trees on a given tract by actual count of 
every tree on the whole area, or by calculating the average num- 
ber of trees per acre and then multiplying this result by the num- 
ber of acres. Sometimes the trees are simply counted, but often 
their diameters are also measured or estimated. After determin- 
ing the number of trees on a given tract or on an acre, the amount — 
of timber is obtained by multiplying the contents of an average — 

