22 
BULLETIN 55, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
two stacks is known. Only by knowing this can one avoid paying 
the same amount of money for different amounts of solid wood. 
Table 5 gives the solid volume of wood in a cord according to size 
and length of the sticks. Other factors which influence the solid 
contents are variable, and are therefore not considered. Sticks 
with a diameter of more than 7 inches at the upper end are usually 
derived from the lower part of the trunk, are free from branches, 
and cylindrical in shape. Sticks less than 7 inches in diameter come 
usually from the upper parts of the trees. The mixture of these 
two classes is typical of most of the pulpwood offered on the market. 
Table 5. — Volume of solid tvood per cord. 
Length. 
Small 
diameter 
over 7 
inches. 
Small 
diameter 
from 7 to 4 
inches. 
First and 
second 
classes 
mixed. 
Feet. 
4 
8 
12 
16 
Cubic feet. 
96.7 
91.6 
86.2 
80.2 
Cubic feet. 
92.4 
87.2 
81.6 
75.5 
Cubic feet. 
94.9 
89.7 
84.3 
78.3 
Table 5 is presented as a basis for specifications in contracts for 
pulpwood. Designating the money value of 1 cord of 4-foot logs 
of the third class as 100, the value of 1 cord of logs of the lengths 
and diameters given in table 6 will be as follows: 
Table 6. — Relative money value of cords composed of logs of different lengths and 
diameters. 
Length. 
Small 
diameter 
over 7 
inches. 
Small 
diameter 
from 7 to 4 
inches. 
First and 
second 
classes 
mixed. 
Feet. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
4 
101.8 
97.4 
100. 
8 
96.6 
91.9 
94.6 
12 
90.9 
86.0 
88.9 
16 
84.6 
79.6 
82.6 
LIFE HISTORY OF BALSAM FIR. 
GENERAL APPEARANCE. 
Balsam fir {Abies balsamea (Linn.) Mill.) is a small evergreen tree, 
seldom reaching, in the State of New York, a height of 85 feet and a 
diameter of 18 inches breast high. (Plate I.) In Maine occasional 
trees attain a height of 95 or 100 feet and a diameter of 25 or 30 inches. 
As a rule, however, mature trees are from 12 to 16 inches in diameter 
and from 70 to 80 feet high. Of all the northern softwoods, balsam fir 
is probably one of the most symmetrical trees. The bole has a very 
uniform and gradual taper closely resembling a cylinder in form. 
