Field Work Methods in Forestry

one of its subdivisions. There are many ways of doing this field work. One way which has been found especially satisfactory in fairly dense growth is to measure the trees in quarter-acre circles, a radius of 59 feet. An assistant does the calipering, runs out the tape to check distance, and sometimes tallies the diameters called off. But each tract of land will call for certain methods, and no general rule can be laid down as to .what the best method may be. The method chosen is influenced, not only by the land itself, but by the results that are desired, the need of quick work, and other incidental things. But accurate measurements must be insisted upon in all methods used if the work is to be correct. The information obtained by the survey and the exploration usually covers the following points: Tract lines are marked on the ground and tract areas are known. The bark would not strip from this dry cedar post. Methods of ' Ield work A heavy improvement cutting A sample report Record of interior details for mapping is had. Trees, the kind, diameter, and number per acre. The slope of the land. The rock and soil characteristics. The species reproducing. The quality and condition of the growth. The merchantable condition of the tree-crop. Logging chances and conditions. Any damage caused by fire or other extrinsic happenings. The data so obtained are tabulated on special forms. Tables are prepared showing the size in board feet or cords of the individual trees, and by applying these tables to the recorded acres, a sample acre of quantity in feet or cords is obtained. This sample acre multiplied by the whole number of forested acres under consideration will give the total amount of lumber on the tract, proper discounts being made for faults. From the tabulation of the data the report is worked up. An outline of an ordinary report follows. In actual practice of course this outline is modified by omission or increase of detail according to the nature of the tract, but this serves to show the basis for a usual procedure. REPORT Name of Tract. Forest area in acres. \ aste area in acres. I. Water. 2. Burn. 3. Bog, etc. Total area. Total Estimates and Valuation. Species. M Board feet or cords. Value per or cord. Total Timber Value. $ $ Value per acre for timber $ Land value per acre, stripped of timber $ Total value per acre Value of tract $ THL TRACT (1) Owners, with fractions (if any) and addresses. (2) General location Reference to (a) topographical plan. (b) timber plan. (c) field notes of survey. (a) Water systems. (3) General topography and elevation. (1) Outlets. (2) Relation to each other. (3) Relation to present or pro- posed railroads. (b) Elevations; extremes and aver- ages. (c) Slopes; steepness, regularity, etc. (4) Geological features (a) rock. (b) sub soil. (c) soil. (a) Temperature; Yearly and monthly extremes and means. (5) Climate (1) Length of growing season. (b) Precipitation; Yearly and monthly means and influence on forest growth, stream flow, etc. (6) Transportation (a) Drivable waters. (b) Railways. (c) Roads. (d) Cable ways, flumes, tramways, etc. (7) Market (a) Mills: present location, kind, capacity and efficiency. THL FORL5T (1) The species (a) Names and characteristics. (b) Range and altitudinal limits. (c) Tolerance, moisture requirements, soil requirements. (d) General size, quality and thrift in different situations. (2) Forest Types (a) Percent of each species in each type- (b) Where found and characteristics. (1) Elevation, soil and moisture. (c) Relative predominance and value in the forest. (3) Present forest conditions, (a) Thrift. (b) Quality. (c) Tolerance. (d) Prediction of yield. (e) Argument for and against different systems of management, such as clean cuttings, thinnings, plantings, etc. (f) Damage and its prevention. (4) Merchantable condition, (a) Size and for what used. (b) Quality. (5) Estimates, (a) Species. (b) Diameter or sizes taken. 24 (6) Lumbering, (a) Logs, pulp, etc. (b) Cost on landing. (c) Length and cost of drive or haul. (d) Present waste in lumbering and methods of elimination. (e) Suggested improvements in present cutting and transportation. (7) General operation or "working" plan. SUBDIVISION REPORTS Forest area. Waste area (1) (2) (3) Water. Burn. Bo S> etc - acres. Total area. acres. Species. Estimates Board feet or cords. Topography. (1) Valleys and heights. (2) Drivable streams or railways. Soils. (1) Forest and agricultural land. (2) Quality and types of soil. Growth. (1) Present types. (a) Occurrence. (b) Condition. (c) Damage. Lumbering. (1) Footing for horses. (2) Swamping and yarding conditions. (3) Length of haul. (4) Camp locations. (5) Avoidable waste. Details of working plan and definite recommendations. (1) When, how and where to operate. -5 Would not such a report be valuable to you in the general handling of your lands, or in the buying, selling or borrowing of money thereon ? In scientific handling of forest properties it is possible to go still further. By analyzing carefully the different trees there may be determined the yield which may be cut from the forest at stated periods without depletion of principal. This knowledge is of especial value to land owners and to mills owning their own timber lands. For lack of this knowledge in the past many serious mistakes have been made and losses incurred. By cutting more frequently or more thoroughly than the increase would permit some lands have become seriously depleted without the owner's knowledge until it was too late to save them. One method of ar- riving at a knowl- edge of future yields, in a forest containing many M^sSfe 7- .\X JSESP* ages of growth, is as follows: - . >..*�> 4'' �i .;. - �. Sample acres are measured throughout the tract, and the trees within these acres meas- ured as in obtaining Light mountain transit used for traverse work. a present estimate. This work may be done in the same manner as in esti- mating, but smaller diameters will be taken into account than if the estimate is being made for present growth only. Even the seedlings will be counted on A a few acres. rec- ord Will also be 26 Running levels to control barometric work. kept of what trees will probably die out through crowding and shading. As large a number of felled trees of different diameters as practicable are measured. If logging is going on this can be done in the works. Besides the diameter at breast height, the measurement of growth at breast height or on the stump is made by counting rings back for ten years more or less. Different types of trees are classified by height as well as diameter. This adds to the accuracy of the figures but is not always neces- sary. The best and cheapest way can be decided on the ground by the forester. The rate of height growth is also determined, and the volume of the trees at different ages is computed. This is often a long and somewhat expensive process, but for practical purposes it is possible to shorten it greatly by certain slurring methods which give the desired results for local areas. From the volume so obtained for trees of different diameters and growth between different ages, the future growth and yield can be predicted. The forest owner may fix the most profitable size at which to cut, and may know the yields of merchantable lumber at future dates after such cutting. He can definitely plan what his forest is going to be worth, as well as what it is worth, and can figure whether he will get good interest on his money if it is left invested in certain tracts of land. When planting is profitable Especially in estimating fire damage to young growth is this acquisition of data valuable, allowing future as well as present loss to be accounted for. Planting is as yet impracticable in most wooded territories j)Ut t jie j a y j s fast a pp roacn ing when it will become profitable. Even today there are many areas that would pay to plant. On vast wastes left by fire and by devastating logging planting can be carried on with profit by the State or by corporations, especially where large mills expect a permanent supply of timber from given areas. Here and there are cases where individuals should artificially restock their holdings. In planting it is the work of the forester to know what species is best adapted to the soil, climate, and market. He knows how trees affect each other, and how soil, climate and species are inter-related. He will not plant a tree calling for rich soil in land that has poor soil. He will not plant a tree of a valuable species in mixture with one less valuable but stronger which will crowd out, over-shade and kill its better neighbor. He knows that preliminary studies, even elabo- rate ones, are often the cheapest in the end. It will pay the owner to be sure he is planting the correct species in the right way, and this cannot always be readily determined without careful examination. The management of lands is A spotted line through old