CHAPTER IX 
MEASURING THE FOREST CROP 
F'oREST mensuration, the measuring of the forest 
crop and the determination of growths and yields, is 
a branch of forestry which is increasing in impor- 
tance with the rapid rise in timber values. When 
first growth timber land could be bought for a few 
cents or much less than one dollar per acre, the forest 
was “cruised” or looked over by an experienced “land 
looker’’ or ‘‘timber cruiser,’’ who estimated the amount 
of timber it contained and the approximate price that 
ought to be paid for it by simply going through the 
tract. It was a matter of judgment and experience and 
since the estimates were always very conservative the 
outcome was generally satisfactory. When large cor- 
porations began acquiring extensive holdings for 
speculative purposes, competition became more keen, 
higher prices were demanded and consequently, some- 
thing more than a guess was required. Thus the 
systematic methods of timber estimating were adopted 
in this country as the result of dire necessity. 
In the same way the study of growth and yields was 
adopted. When the forest resources were considered 
inexhaustible a lumberman considered his forest land 
as a mine, to be stripped and abandoned as soon as 
possible. More timber land could be bought and the 
process repeated. Through buying virgin timber land 
for a song and selling the manufactured lumber at a. 
fair figure huge fortunes were accumulated. Now that 
107 
