Timber Management
 

Field Book
 

2008 Edition 

United States 

Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Northeastern Area 

State and Private Forestry 

Newtown Square, PA 

NA–MR–02–08 

August 2008 

www.na.fs.fed.us 

Timber Management
 

Field Book 

2008 Edition 

United States 

Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Northeastern Area 

State and Private Forestry 

11 Campus Boulevard, Suite 200 

Newtown Square, PA 19073 

NA–MR–02–08 

August 2008 

www.na.fs.fed.us 

Sections 

Section 

Number

 1 Surveying and Cruising

 2 Scaling

 3 Reforestation

 4 Stand Improvement

 5 Silvicultural Information

 6 Economic Information

 7 Converting Factors

 8 Formulas 

This Field Book revises and supersedes NA-MR-7 “Timber Management 

Field Book” and NA-FR-15 “Reference Handbook for Foresters.” Any 

corrections, additions, and updates should be sent to ksykes@fs.fed.us, 

304.285.1532. 

Surveying and Cruising 

Sections 

1.1 Areas and Dimensions of Plots
 

1.1a Basal Area Table
 

1.2 Composite Board Foot Volume Table for Basal Area Factor 10 

1.2a Volume Table B.F. Per Acre Scribner for Basal Area Factor 10
 

1.3a Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 5
 

1.3b Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 10
 

1.3c Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 20
 

1.3d Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 40
 

1.3e Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 80
 

1.4a Point Sampling Number of Stems per Acre by DBH and 

Basal Area 

1.4b	 Slope Correction Factors
 

1.5a-b	 Elementary Statistical Considerations for Cruising
 

1.5c	 Ratio of Standard Deviation to Range for Simple Random 

Samples
 

1.5d Accuracy Level Table
 

1.6	 Number of 10-Factor Sample Points Suggested
 

1.7	 Volume Table - Cords Per Acre for a 10-Factor Prism
 

1.8	 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Board Feet (Scribner Rule) by 

Number of 16-Foot Logs
 

1.9	 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Rough Cords to a Variable 

Top Diameter Inside Bark, by Number of Bolts
 

1.10	 R-9 Cubic Foot Volume Table – Cordwood
 

1.11	 R-9 Cubic Foot Volume Table – Sawtimber
 

1.12	 Stave Bolt and Heading Bolt Volumes in Standing Trees
 

1.13	 Number of Cords Per MBF and Number of Board Feet Per Cord 

by Tree Diameters for Pine Timber (International 1⁄4" Rule)
 
1.14	 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Number of 16-Foot Logs 

(International 1⁄4 inch Log Rule)
 

1.15	 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Board Feet by Number of 16­

Foot Logs (Doyle Log Rule)
 

1.16	 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Number of 16-Foot Logs 

(Scribner)
 

1.17	 Volume Distribution (Percent)
 

1.18	 Rate of Growth (Growth Factor Table)
 

1.19 Guide for Hardwood Tree Grading Based on Butt Log
 

1.20a-e Relaskop / Spiegel Relaskop©
 

1.21	 Shortcut Formulas for Determining Volumes with a 10-Factor 

Prism or Gauge – Pulpwood (Cords)
 

1.22	 Rule of Thumb Shortcut Formulas for Determining Volumes with 

a 10-Factor Prism or Gauge – SAWTIMBER
 

1.23	 Ratios for Cruising by Basal Area
 

1.24	 Quick Cruise Computer Volume – Cords (1 Stick = 8 Ft.)
 

1.25	 Quick Cruise Computer Volume – Board Feet - Int. 

(1 Log = 16 Ft.)
 

1.26	 Shortcut Calculations for Growth
 
1.1 Areas and Dimensions of Plots 

Which Are Convenient Fractions of an Acre
 

Plot Area (Acres) 

1/1 

1/2 

1/3 

1/4 

1/5 

1/6 

1/7 

1/8 

1/9 

1/10 

1/12 

1/20 

1/30 

1/40 

1/50 

1/60 

1/70 

1/80 

1/90 

1/100 

1/120
 

1/250
 

1/500
 

1/750
 

1/1000
 

Square Plot Side 

Feet 

208.7103 

147.5805 

120.4990 

104.3552 

93.3381 

85.2056 

78.8851 

73.7902 

69.5701 

66.0000 

60.2495 

46.6690 

38.1051 

33.0000 

29.5161 

26.9444 

24.9457 

23.3345 

22.0000 

20.8710 

19.0526 

13.2000 

9.3338 

7.621 

6.600 

Circular Plot Radius 

Feet 

117.7522 

83.2634 

67.9843 

58.8761 

52.6604 

48.0721 

44.5061 

41.6317 

39.2507 

37.2365 

33.9921 

26.3302 

21.4985 

18.6183 

16.6527 

15.2017 

14.0741 

13.1651 

12.4122 

11.7752 

10.7493 

7.4473 

5.2660 

4.30 

3.724 

1.1 
1.1a Basal Area Table 

Diameter Area Diameter Area

(Inches) (Square Feet) (Inches) (Square Feet) 

1 .006 21 2.405 

2 .022 22 2.640 

3 .049 23 2.885 

4 .087 24 3.142 

5 .136 25 3.41 

6 .196 26 3.69 

7 .267 27 3.98 

8 .349 28 4.28 

9 .442 29 4.59 

10 .545 30 4.91 

11 .660 31 5.24 

12 .785 32 5.59 

13 .922 33 5.94 

14 1.069 34 6.30 

15 1.227 35 6.68 

16 1.396 36 7.07 

17 1.576 37 7.47 

18 1.767 38 7.88 

19 1.969 39 8.30 

20 2.181 40 8.73 

1.1a 
1.2 Composite Board Foot Volume Table for Basal Area Factor 10 

Volume Per Acre International 1/4 Inch Per Sq. Ft. of Basal Area 

DBH Number of 16' Logs 

1⁄2 1 11⁄2 2 21⁄2 3 31⁄2 4 5 

8 429 686 1001 1315 

10 385 715 990 1247 1393 1485 

12 382 726 1019 1273 1451 1579 1655 

14 393 739 1029 1310 1525 1721 1815 1918 

16 423 752 1053 1289 1526 1769 1962 2113 2335 

18 419 764 1064 1330 1573 1811 2037 2264 2490 

20 422 779 1082 1352 1604 1834 2063 2292 2613 

22 424 792 1099 1371 1629 1875 2102 2311 2708 

24 423 802 1101 1369 1623 1894 2133 2355 2769 

26 428 814 1112 1383 1641 1898 2142 2387 2766 

28 437 814 1123 1392 1637 1895 2152 2386 2783 

30 448 835 1120 1395 1650 1894 2159 2404 2770 

32 455 841 1137 1414 1665 1915 2166 2416 2775 

34 462 841 1150 1427 1681 1919 2189 2427 2791 

36 471 849 1160 1429 1684 1939 2193 2441 2830 

38 475 851 1156 1422 1689 1943 2197 2451 2845 

40 476 854 1157 1432 1696 1948 2212 2475 2842 

USDA Tech. Bull. #1104 Table #2 

1.2 
1.2a Volume Table B.F. Per Acre Scribner for Basal Area Factor 10

1.2a 

Tree 

DBH 

Volume Per Acre for each 10 Sq. Ft. of Basal Area, or for Each Tree

1⁄2 Log 1 Log 11⁄2 Log 2 Log 21⁄2 Log 3 Log 31⁄2 Log 4 Log 41⁄2 Log 5 Log 

10 312 550 734 880 

12 357 612 841 993 1236 1360 1455 

14 374 655 898 1085 1319 1497 1677 

16 387 666 924 1132 1368 1605 1776 1884 1991 2090 

18 408 690 951 1172 1404 1652 1839 2009 2122 2235 

20 412 715 972 1201 1453 1677 1902 2062 2223 2383 

22 420 735 992 1242 1485 1704 1932 2121 2311 2500 

24 436 751 1015 1273 1496 1750 1973 2196 2371 2546 

26 448 762 1033 1302 1532 1763 2007 2224 2400 2577 

28 456 774 1052 1310 1567 1777 2011 2245 2432 2619 

30 462 780 1059 1324 1569 1813 2037 2261 2444 2628 

32 466 788 1074 1325 1594 1826 2059 2292 2462 2632 

34 466 793 1078 1332 1602 1840 2062 2316 2482 2649 

36 467 799 1089 1358 1613 1853 2094 2334 2511 2688 

38 463 800 1092 1359 1612 1866 2108 2336 2514 2692 

40 464 802 1089 1352 1604 1868 2120 2349 2521 2693 

From Table 1, pg. 5 Tech. Bull. No. 1104, Jan. 1955, USDA. 
1.3a Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 5 

Horizontal Distance in Feet from the Plot Center to Tree Center for Trees 

of Indicated DBH - Radius Factor 3.8891 

.0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 

0 0.00 0.38 0.78 1.17 1.56 1.94 2.33 2.72 3.11 3.50 

1 3.89 4.28 4.67 5.05 5.44 5.83 6.22 6.61 7.00 7.39 

2 7.78 8.17 8.56 8.94 9.33 9.72 10.11 10.50 10.89 11.28 

3 11.67 12.06 12.44 12.83 13.22 13.61 14.00 14.39 14.78 15.17 

4 15.56 15.94 16.33 16.72 17.11 17.50 17.89 18.28 18.67 19.06 

5 19.44 19.83 20.22 20.61 21.00 21.39 21.78 22.17 22.56 22.95 

6 23.33 23.72 24.11 24.50 24.89 25.28 25.67 26.06 26.45 26.83 

7 27.22 27.61 28.00 28.39 28.78 29.17 29.56 29.95 30.33 30.72 

8 31.11 31.50 31.89 32.28 32.67 33.06 33.45 33.83 34.22 34.61 

9 35.00 35.39 35.78 36.17 36.56 36.95 37.33 37.72 38.11 38.50 

10 38.89 39.28 39.67 40.06 40.45 40.84 41.22 41.61 42.00 42.39 

11 42.78 43.17 43.56 43.95 44.34 44.72 45.11 45.50 45.89 46.28 

12 46.67 47.06 47.45 47.84 48.22 48.61 49.00 49.39 49.78 50.17 

13 50.56 50.95 51.34 51.72 52.11 52.58 52.89 53.28 53.67 54.06 

14 54.45 54.84 55.22 55.61 56.00 56.39 56.78 57.17 57.56 57.95 

15 58.34 58.72 59.11 59.50 59.89 60.28 60.67 61.06 61.45 61.84 

16 62.23 62.61 63.00 63.39 63.78 64.17 64.56 64.95 65.34 65.73 

17 66.11 66.50 66.89 67.28 67.67 68.06 68.45 68.84 69.23 69.61 

18 70.00 70.39 70.78 71.17 71.56 71.95 72.34 72.73 73.11 73.50 

19 73.89 74.28 74.67 75.06 75.45 75.84 76.23 76.61 77.00 77.39 

20 77.78 78.17 78.56 78.95 79.34 79.73 80.11 80.50 80.89 81.28 

21 81.67 82.06 82.45 82.84 83.23 83.62 84.00 84.39 84.78 85.17 

22 85.56 85.95 86.34 86.73 87.12 87.50 87.89 88.28 88.67 89.06 

23 89.45 89.84 90.23 90.62 91.00 91.39 91.78 92.17 92.56 92.95 

24 93.34 93.73 94.11 94.50 94.89 95.28 95.67 96.06 96.45 96.84 

25 97.23 97.62 98.00 98.39 98.78 99.17 99.56 99.95 100.34 100.73 

26 101.12 101.51 101.89 102.28 102.67 103.06 103.45 103.84 104.23 104.62 

27 105.01 105.39 105.78 106.17 106.56 106.95 107.34 107.73 108.12 108.51 

28 108.89 109.28 109.67 110.06 110.45 110.84 111.23 111.62 112.01 112.39 

29 112.78 113.17 113.56 113.95 114.34 114.73 115.12 115.51 115.89 116.28 

30 116.67 117.06 117.45 117.84 118.23 118.62 119.01 119.39 119.78 120.17 

31 120.56 120.95 121.34 121.73 122.12 122.51 122.90 123.28 123.67 124.06 

32 124.45 124.84 125.23 125.62 126.01 126.40 126.78 127.17 127.56 127.95 

33 128.34 128.73 129.12 129.51 129.90 130.28 130.67 131.06 131.45 131.84 

34 132.23 132.62 133.07 133.40 133.79 134.17 134.56 134.95 135.34 135.73 

35 136.12 136.51 136.90 137.29 137.67 138.06 138.45 138.84 139.23 139.62 

1.3a 
1.3b Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 10 

Horizontal Distance in Feet from Plot Center to Tree Center for Trees of 

Indicated DBH - Radius Factor 2.750
 

.0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 

0 0.00 0.28 0.55 0.82 1.10 1.38 1.65 1.92 2.20 2.47 

1 2.75 3.02 3.30 3.57 3.85 4.12 4.40 4.67 4.95 5.22 

2 5.50 5.77 6.05 6.32 6.60 6.87 7.15 7.42 7.70 7.97 

3 8.25 8.52 8.80 9.07 9.35 9.62 9.90 10.17 10.45 10.72 

4 11.00 11.27 11.55 11.82 12.10 12.37 12.65 12.92 13.20 13.47 

5 13.75 14.02 14.30 14.57 14.85 15.12 15.40 15.67 15.95 16.22 

6 16.50 16.77 17.05 17.32 17.60 17.87 18.15 18.42 18.70 18.97 

7 19.25 19.52 19.80 20.07 20.35 20.62 20.90 21.17 21.45 21.72 

8 22.00 22.27 22.55 22.82 23.10 23.37 23.65 23.92 24.20 24.47 

9 24.75 25.02 25.30 25.57 25.85 26.12 26.40 26.67 26.95 27.22 

10 27.50 27.77 28.05 28.32 28.60 28.87 29.15 29.42 29.70 29.97 

11 30.25 30.52 30.80 31.07 31.35 31.62 31.90 32.17 32.45 32.72 

12 33.00 33.27 33.55 33.82 34.10 34.37 34.65 34.92 35.20 35.47 

13 35.75 36.02 36.30 36.57 36.85 37.12 37.40 37.67 37.95 38.22 

14 38.50 38.77 39.05 39.32 39.60 39.87 40.15 40.42 40.70 40.97 

15 41.25 41.52 41.80 42.07 42.35 42.62 42.90 43.17 43.45 43.72 

16 44.00 44.27 44.55 44.82 45.10 45.37 45.65 45.92 46.20 46.47 

17 46.75 47.02 47.30 47.57 47.85 48.12 48.40 48.67 48.95 49.22 

18 49.50 49.77 50.05 50.32 50.60 50.87 51.15 51.42 51.70 51.97 

19 52.25 52.52 52.80 53.07 53.35 53.62 53.90 54.17 54.45 54.72 

20 55.00 55.27 55.55 55.82 56.10 56.37 56.65 56.92 57.20 57.47 

21 57.75 58.02 58.30 58.57 58.85 59.12 59.40 59.67 59.95 60.22 

22 60.50 60.77 61.05 61.32 61.60 61.87 62.15 62.42 62.70 62.97 

23 63.25 63.52 63.80 64.07 64.35 64.62 64.90 65.17 65.45 65.72 

24 66.00 66.27 66.55 66.82 67.10 67.37 67.65 67.92 68.20 68.47 

25 68.75 69.02 69.30 69.57 69.85 70.12 70.40 70.67 70.95 71.22 

26 71.50 71.77 72.05 72.32 72.60 72.87 73.15 73.42 73.70 73.97 

27 74.25 74.52 74.80 75.07 75.35 75.62 75.90 76.17 76.45 76.72 

28 77.00 77.27 77.55 77.82 78.10 78.37 78.65 78.92 79.20 79.47 

29 79.75 80.02 80.30 80.57 80.85 81.12 81.40 81.67 81.95 82.22 

30 82.50 82.77 83.05 83.32 83.60 83.87 84.15 84.42 84.70 84.97 

31 85.25 85.52 85.80 86.07 86.35 86.62 86.90 87.17 87.45 87.72 

32 88.00 88.27 88.55 88.82 89.10 89.37 89.65 89.92 90.20 90.47 

33 90.75 91.02 91.30 91.57 91.85 92.12 92.40 92.67 92.95 93.22 

34 93.50 93.77 94.05 94.32 94.60 94.87 95.15 95.42 95.70 95.97 

35 96.25 96.52 96.80 97.07 97.35 97.62 97.90 98.17 98.45 98.72 

1.3b 
1.3c Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 20 

Horizontal Distance in Feet from the Plot Center to Tree Center for Trees 

of Indicated DBH - Radius Factor 1.9445 

.0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 

3 5.83 6.03 6.22 6.42 6.61 6.81 7.00 7.19 7.39 7.58 

4 7.78 7.97 8.17 8.36 8.56 8.75 8.94 9.14 9.33 9.53 

5 9.72 9.92 10.11 10.31 10.50 10.69 10.89 11.08 11.28 11.47 

6 11.67 11.86 12.06 12.25 12.45 12.64 12.83 13.03 13.22 13.42 

7 13.61 13.81 14.00 14.19 14.39 14.58 14.78 14.97 15.17 15.36 

8 15.56 15.75 15.94 16.14 16.33 16.53 16.72 16.92 17.11 17.31 

9 17.50 17.69 17.89 18.08 18.28 18.47 18.67 18.86 19.06 19.25 

10 19.44 19.64 19.83 20.03 20.22 20.42 20.61 20.81 21.00 21.19 

11 21.39 21.58 21.78 21.97 22.17 22.36 22.56 22.75 22.94 23.14 

12 23.33 23.53 23.72 23.92 24.11 24.31 24.50 24.69 24.89 25.08 

13 25.28 25.47 25.67 25.86 26.06 26.25 26.44 26.64 26.83 27.03 

14 27.22 27.42 27.61 27.81 28.00 28.19 28.39 28.58 28.78 28.97 

15 29.17 29.36 29.56 29.75 29.94 30.14 30.33 30.53 30.72 30.92 

16 31.11 31.31 31.50 31.69 31.89 32.08 32.28 32.47 32.67 32.86 

17 33.06 33.25 33.44 33.64 33.83 34.03 34.22 34.42 34.61 34.81 

18 35.00 35.19 35.39 35.58 35.78 35.97 36.17 36.36 36.56 36.75 

19 36.95 37.14 37.33 37.53 37.72 37.92 38.11 38.31 38.50 38.70 

20 38.89 39.08 39.28 39.47 39.67 39.86 40.06 40.25 40.45 40.64 

21 40.83 41.03 41.22 41.42 41.61 41.81 42.00 42.19 42.39 42.58 

22 42.78 42.97 43.17 43.36 43.56 43.75 43.95 44.14 44.33 44.53 

23 44.72 44.92 45.11 45.31 45.50 45.70 45.89 46.08 46.28 46.47 

24 46.67 46.86 47.06 47.25 47.45 47.64 47.83 48.03 48.22 48.42 

25 48.61 48.81 49.00 49.20 49.39 49.58 49.78 49.97 50.17 50.36 

26 50.56 50.75 50.95 51.14 51.33 51.53 51.72 51.92 52.11 52.31 

27 52.50 52.70 52.89 53.08 53.28 53.47 53.67 53.86 54.06 54.25 

28 54.45 54.64 54.83 55.03 55.22 55.42 55.61 55.81 56.00 56.20 

29 56.39 56.58 56.78 56.97 57.17 57.36 57.56 57.75 57.95 58.14 

30 58.33 58.53 58.72 58.92 59.11 59.31 59.50 59.70 59.89 60.08 

31 60.28 60.47 60.67 60.86 61.06 61.25 61.45 61.64 61.83 62.03 

32 62.22 62.42 62.61 62.81 63.00 63.20 63.39 63.58 63.78 63.97 

33 64.17 64.36 64.56 64.75 64.95 65.14 65.33 65.53 65.72 65.92 

34 66.11 66.31 66.50 66.70 66.89 67.08 67.28 67.47 67.67 67.86 

35 68.06 68.25 68.45 68.64 68.83 69.03 69.22 69.42 69.61 69.81 

36 70.00 70.20 70.39 70.58 70.78 70.97 71.17 71.36 71.56 71.75 

37 71.95 72.14 72.33 72.53 72.72 72.92 73.11 73.31 73.50 73.70 

38 73.90 74.08 74.28 74.47 74.67 74.86 75.06 75.25 75.45 75.64 

39 75.83 76.03 76.22 76.42 76.61 76.81 77.00 77.20 77.39 77.58 

40 77.78 77.97 78.17 78.36 78.56 78.75 78.95 79.14 79.33 79.53 

1.3c 
1.3d Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 40 

Horizontal Distance in Feet from the Plot Center to Tree Center for Trees 

of Indicated DBH - Radius Factor 1.3750 

.0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 

3 4.12 4.26 4.40 4.54 4.68 4.81 4.95 5.09 5.22 5.36 

4 5.50 5.64 5.77 5.91 6.05 6.19 6.32 6.46 6.60 6.74 

5 6.87 7.01 7.15 7.29 7.42 7.56 7.70 7.84 7.97 8.11 

6 8.25 8.39 8.52 8.66 8.80 8.94 9.07 9.21 9.35 9.49 

7 9.62 9.76 9.90 10.04 10.17 10.31 10.45 10.59 10.72 10.86 

8 11.00 11.14 11.27 11.41 11.55 11.69 11.82 11.96 12.10 12.24 

9 12.37 12.51 12.65 12.79 12.92 13.06 13.20 13.34 13.47 13.61 

10 13.75 13.89 14.02 14.16 14.30 14.44 14.57 14.71 14.85 14.99 

11 15.12 15.26 15.40 15.54 15.67 15.81 15.95 16.09 16.22 16.36 

12 16.50 16.64 16.77 16.91 17.05 17.19 17.32 17.46 17.60 17.74 

13 17.87 18.01 18.15 18.29 18.42 18.56 18.70 18.84 18.97 19.11 

14 19.25 19.39 19.52 19.66 19.80 19.94 20.07 20.21 20.35 20.49 

15 20.62 20.76 20.90 21.04 21.17 21.31 21.45 21.59 21.72 21.86 

16 22.00 22.14 22.27 22.41 22.55 22.69 22.82 22.96 23.10 23.24 

17 23.37 23.51 23.65 23.79 23.92 24.06 24.20 24.34 24.47 24.61 

18 24.75 24.89 25.02 25.16 25.30 25.44 25.57 25.71 25.85 25.99 

19 26.12 26.26 26.40 26.54 26.67 26.81 26.95 27.09 27.22 27.36 

20 27.50 27.64 27.77 27.91 28.05 28.19 28.32 28.46 28.60 28.74 

21 28.87 29.01 29.15 29.29 29.42 29.56 29.70 29.84 29.97 30.11 

22 30.25 30.39 30.52 30.66 30.80 30.94 31.07 31.21 31.35 31.49 

23 31.62 31.76 31.90 32.04 32.17 32.31 32.45 32.59 32.72 32.86 

24 33.00 33.14 33.27 33.41 33.55 33.69 33.82 33.96 34.10 34.24 

25 34.37 34.51 34.65 34.79 34.92 35.06 35.20 35.34 35.47 35.61 

26 35.75 35.89 36.02 36.16 36.30 36.44 36.57 36.71 36.85 36.99 

27 37.12 37.26 37.40 37.54 37.67 37.81 37.95 38.09 38.22 38.36 

28 38.50 38.64 38.77 38.91 39.05 39.19 39.32 39.46 39.60 39.74 

29 39.87 40.01 40.15 40.29 40.42 40.56 40.70 40.84 40.97 41.12 

30 41.25 41.39 41.52 41.66 41.80 41.94 42.07 42.21 42.35 42.49 

31 42.62 42.76 42.90 43.04 43.17 43.31 43.45 43.59 43.72 43.86 

32 44.00 44.14 44.27 44.41 44.55 44.69 44.82 44.96 45.10 45.24 

33 45.37 45.51 45.65 45.79 45.92 46.06 46.20 46.34 46.47 46.61 

34 46.75 46.89 47.02 47.16 47.30 47.44 47.57 47.71 47.85 47.99 

35 48.12 48.26 48.40 48.54 48.67 48.81 48.95 49.09 49.22 49.36 

36 49.50 49.64 49.77 49.91 50.05 50.19 50.32 50.46 50.60 50.74 

37 50.87 51.01 51.15 51.29 51.42 51.56 51.70 51.84 51.97 52.11 

38 52.25 52.39 52.52 52.66 52.80 52.94 53.07 53.21 53.35 53.49 

39 53.62 53.76 53.90 54.04 54.17 54.31 54.45 54.59 54.72 54.86 

40 55.00 55.14 55.27 55.41 55.55 55.69 55.82 55.96 56.10 56.24 

1.3d 
1.3e Point Sampling Limiting Distance in Feet Basal Area Factor 80 

Horizontal Distance in Feet from the Plot Center to Tree Center for Trees 

of Indicated DBH - Radius Factor 0.972 

.0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 

3 2.92 3.01 3.11 3.21 3.31 3.40 3.50 3.60 3.70 3.79 

4 3.89 3.98 4.08 4.18 4.28 4.37 4.47 4.57 4.67 4.76 

5 4.86 4.96 5.05 5.15 5.25 5.35 5.44 5.54 5.64 5.73 

6 5.80 5.93 6.03 6.12 6.22 6.32 6.42 6.51 6.61 6.71 

7 6.80 6.90 7.00 7.10 7.19 7.29 7.39 7.48 7.59 7.68 

8 7.77 7.87 7.97 8.07 8.16 8.26 8.36 8.46 8.55 8.65 

9 8.75 8.84 8.94 9.04 9.14 9.23 9.33 9.43 9.53 9.62 

10 9.72 9.82 9.91 10.01 10.11 10.21 10.30 10.40 10.50 10.59 

11 10.69 10.79 10.89 10.98 11.08 11.18 11.28 11.37 11.47 11.57 

12 11.66 11.76 11.86 11.96 12.05 12.15 12.25 12.34 12.44 12.54 

13 12.64 12.73 12.83 12.93 13.02 13.12 13.22 13.32 13.41 13.51 

14 13.61 13.70 13.80 13.90 14.00 14.09 14.19 14.29 14.38 14.48 

15 14.58 14.68 14.77 14.87 14.97 15.07 15.16 15.26 15.36 15.46 

16 15.55 15.65 15.75 15.84 15.94 16.04 16.14 16.23 16.33 14.43 

17 16.52 16.62 16.72 16.82 16.91 17.01 17.11 17.20 17.30 17.40 

18 17.50 17.59 17.69 17.79 17.88 17.98 18.08 18.18 18.27 18.37 

19 18.47 18.56 18.66 18.76 18.86 18.95 19.05 19.15 19.25 19.34 

20 19.44 19.54 19.63 19.73 19.83 19.93 20.02 20.12 20.22 20.31 

21 20.41 20.51 20.61 20.70 20.80 20.90 20.99 21.09 21.19 21.29 

22 21.38 21.48 21.58 21.68 21.77 21.87 21.97 22.06 22.16 22.26 

23 23.36 22.45 22.55 22.65 22.74 22.84 22.94 23.04 23.13 23.23 

24 23.33 23.42 23.55 23.62 23.72 23.81 23.91 24.01 24.11 24.21 

25 24.30 24.40 24.49 24.59 24.69 24.79 24.88 24.98 25.08 25.18 

26 25.27 25.37 25.47 25.56 25.66 25.76 25.86 25.95 26.05 26.15 

27 26.24 26.34 26.44 26.54 26.63 26.73 26.83 26.92 27.02 27.12 

28 27.22 27.31 27.41 27.51 27.60 27.70 27.80 27.90 27.99 28.09 

29 28.12 28.28 28.38 28.48 28.58 28.67 28.77 28.87 28.96 29.06 

30 29.16 29.26 29.35 29.45 29.55 29.65 29.74 29.84 29.94 30.04 

31 30.13 30.23 30.33 30.42 30.52 30.62 30.72 30.81 30.91 31.01 

32 31.10 31.20 31.30 31.40 31.49 31.59 31.69 31.78 31.88 31.98 

33 32.08 32.17 32.27 32.37 32.46 32.56 32.66 32.76 32.85 32.95 

34 33.05 33.14 33.24 33.34 33.44 33.53 33.63 33.73 33.83 33.92 

35 34.02 34.12 34.21 34.31 34.40 34.51 34.60 34.70 34.80 34.90 

36 34.99 35.09 35.19 35.28 35.38 35.48 35.52 35.67 35.77 35.87 

37 35.96 36.06 36.16 36.26 36.35 36.45 36.55 36.64 36.74 36.84 

38 36.94 37.03 37.13 37.23 37.32 37.42 37.52 37.62 37.71 37.81 

39 37.91 38.00 38.10 38.20 38.30 38.40 38.49 38.59 38.69 38.78 

40 38.88 38.98 39.07 39.17 39.27 39.37 39.46 39.56 39.66 39.76 

1.3e 
1.4a Point Sampling
 

Number of Stems per Acre by DBH and Basal Area
 

DBH 

Basal Area Factor 

5 10 20 40 60 80 100 

3 101.9 203.7 407.4 814.9 1222.3 1629.7 2037.2 

4 57.3 114.6 229.2 458.4 687.5 916.7 1145.9 

5 36.7 73.3 146.7 293.4 440.0 586.7 733.4 

6 25.5 50.9 101.9 203.7 305.6 407.4 509.3 

7 18.7 37.4 74.8 149.7 224.5 299.3 374.2 

8 14.3 28.6 57.3 114.6 171.9 229.2 286.5 

9 11.3 22.6 45.3 90.5 135.8 181.1 226.4 

10 9.2 18.3 36.7 73.3 110.0 146.7 183.3 

11 7.6 15.2 30.3 60.6 90.9 121.2 151.5 

12 6.4 12.7 25.5 50.9 76.4 101.9 127.3 

14 4.7 9.4 18.7 37.4 56.1 74.8 93.5 

16 3.6 7.2 14.3 28.6 43.0 57.3 71.6 

18 2.8 5.7 11.3 22.6 34.0 45.3 56.6 

20 2.3 4.6 9.2 18.3 27.5 36.7 45.8 

22 1.9 3.8 7.6 15.2 22.7 30.3 37.9 

24 1.6 3.2 6.4 12.7 19.1 25.5 31.8 

26 1.4 2.7 5.4 10.8 16.3 21.7 27.1 

28 1.2 2.3 4.7 9.4 14.0 18.7 23.4 

30 1.0 2.0 4.1 8.1 12.2 16.3 20.4 

32 0.9 1.8 3.6 7.2 10.7 14.3 17.9 

34 0.8 1.6 3.2 6.3 9.5 12.7 15.9 

36 0.7 1.4 2.8 5.7 8.5 11.3 14.1 

38 0.6 1.3 2.5 5.1 7.6 10.2 12.7 

40 0.6 1.1 2.3 4.6 6.9 9.2 11.5 

1.4a 
 

1.4b Slope Correction Factors 

For Use with Point Sample Cruising
 

Slope% Factor Slope% Factor

 0-9 1.00 68-69 1.21 

10-17 1.01 70 1.22 

18-22 1.02 71-72 1.23 

23-26 1.03 73-74 1.24 

27-30 1.04 75 1.25 

31-33 1.05 76-77 1.26 

34-36 1.06 78-79 1.27 

37-39 1.07 80 1.28 

40-42 1.08 81-82 1.29 

43-44 1.09 83 1.30 

45-47 1.10 84-85 1.31 

48-49 1.11 86 1.32 

50-51 1.12 87-88 1.33 

52-53 1.13 89 1.34 

54-55 1.14 90-91 1.35 

56-57 1.15 92 1.36 

58-59 1.16 93-94 1.37 

60-61 1.17 95 1.38 

62-63 1.18 96-97 1.39 

64-65 1.19 98 1.40 

66-67 1.20 99-100 1.41 

Correction factor for steeper slopes is Slope Percent 1+  100 

2 

Required horizontal distance = 50 feet 

Distance along a slope of 30% = 50 ft * 1.04 = 52 feet 

1.4b 
 

 

1.5a Elementary Statistical Considerations for Cruising 

A. Formulas 

1. Mean (M) – Total for samples 

Number of samples 

(x)2 

2  x - 2. Standard Deviation (SD) – N 

N - 1 

 - 1 
 C 4. Limit of Error (E) – (number of samples) 

N

C2

5. Number of Samples (N) – for 68% accuracy level; E2

 

4C2

or for 95% accuracy level

E2

 

B. Shortcut Procedure for Computing Error (E): 

1. Determine range of samples by subtracting low sample from high 

sample. This is (R). 

2. Refer to 1.5b on page 18 to determine factor. 

Example: (N) = 20; Factor = .268 





2

N N  x SD 3. Coefficient of Variation C – or 

(x) N - 1 2 M

1.5a 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.5b 

3. Multiply (R) by factor – answer is (SD). 

Example: (R) = 18; 18 × .268 = 4.82 (SD) 

4. Divide (SD) by (M) – answer is (C). 

Example:	 (M) = 15; 4.82 = 32.1% (C)

 15 

C

5. Use formula E = 

N

32.1 Example:	 E = = ± 7.18% 

20 

6. For specific accuracy level, multiply (E) by factor from 1.5c Table on 

page 19. 

Example:	 E = 7.18% — accuracy level desired 95% 

N -1 = 19 

19 @ 95% level = 2.093 

7.18 × 2.093 + 15.03% 

C. Rules of Thumb 

1. Four times as many samples are required to obtain 95% accuracy level 

as are required to obtain 68% accuracy level. 

Example:	 N = 10 — 68% accuracy level
 

N = 40 — 95% accuracy level
 

2. The limit of error (E) for the 95% accuracy level is two times that of the 

68% accuracy level.

 Example:	 E = + 20% — 95% accuracy level
 

E = +10% — 68% accuracy level
 

1.5b 
1.5c Ratio of Standard Deviation to Range for Simple Random 

Samples 

N 

SD 

R N 

SD 

R 

2 0.886 12 0.307 

3 .591 14 .294 

4 .486 16 .283 

5 .430 18 .275 

6 .395 20 .268 

7 .370 30 .245 

8 .351 40 .231 

9 .337 50 .222 

10 .325 

From Snedecor’s Statistical Methods (ed. 5), Iowa State University 

Press. 

1.5c 
1.5d Accuracy Level Table
 

Compensating for Small Number of Samples
 

(N-1) Accuracy Level t factors 

70% 95% 99% 

4 1.190 2.776 4.604 

5 1.156 2.571 4.032 

6 1.134 2.447 3.707 

7 1.119 2.365 3.499 

8 1.108 2.306 3.355 

9 1.100 2.262 3.250 

10 1.093 2.228 3.169 

11 1.088 2.201 3.106 

12 1.083 2.179 3.055 

13 1.079 2.160 3.012 

14 1.076 2.145 2.977 

15 1.074 2.131 2.947 

16 1.071 2.120 2.921 

17 1.069 2.110 2.898 

18 1.067 2.101 2.878 

19 1.066 2.093 2.861 

20 1.064 2.086 2.845 

21 1.063 2.080 2.831 

22 1.061 2.074 2.819 

23 1.060 2.069 2.807 

24 1.059 2.064 2.797 

25 1.058 2.060 2.787 

26 1.058 2.056 2.779 

27 1.057 2.052 2.771 

28 1.056 2.048 2.763 

29 1.055 2.045 2.756 

30 1.055 2.042 2.750 

1.5d 
1.6 Number of 10-Factor Sample Points Suggested 

Type of Stand 

Limits of Error in Percent 

19 Times Out of 20 Estimated 

Coeff. of 

Variation in 

Percent 

8 10 12 15 20 30 

Required Number of Points 

Sawtimber 

Volume Only 

Poorly Stocked 980 625 430 280 150 70 125 

Medium Stocked 230 150 100 70 40 20 60 

Well Stocked 230 150 100 70 40 20 60 

Sawtimber 

and Cordwood 

Volume 

Poorly Stocked 620 400 280 180 100 45 100 

Medium Stocked 230 150 100 70 40 20 60 

Well Stocked 160 100 70 50 25 15 50 

Cordwood 

Volume Only 

2 cd. per acre 900 580 400 260 150 60 121 

4 cd. per acre 580 370 260 160 90 40 96 

6 cd. per acre 420 270 190 120 70 30 82 

8 cd. per acre 310 200 140 90 50 20 71 

10 cd. per acre 250 160 110 70 40 20 63 

12 cd. per acre 200 130 90 60 30 15 57 

14 cd. per acre 170 110 80 50 30 15 52 

16 cd. per acre 140 90 60 40 20 10 47 

18 cd. per acre 120 80 50 40 20 10 44 

20 cd. per acre 90 60 40 30 15 10 40 

From R9 FSH 2431.23 

1.6 
1.7 Volume Table - Cords Per Acre for a 10-Factor Prism 

Tree 

DBH 

Volume per Acre for Each 10 Sq. Ft. of Basal Area or for Each Tree 

1 

Stick 

2 

Sticks 

3 

Sticks 

4 

Sticks 

5 

Sticks 

6 

Sticks 

7 

Sticks 

8 

Sticks 

6 .87 1.43 2.04 2.40 2.90 3.20 3.50 

8 .89 1.43 1.95 2.49 3.04 3.30 3.70 4.10 

10 .90 1.50 2.04 2.44 2.94 3.45 3.90 4.20 

12 .89 1.54 2.10 2.52 2.87 3.31 3.82 4.20 

14 .89 1.56 2.13 2.55 2.91 3.30 3.74 4.39 

16 .87 1.58 2.15 2.63 3.01 3.36 3.80 4.22 

18 .88 1.60 2.16 2.66 3.11 3.40 3.68 4.13 

20 .89 1.62 2.20 2.70 3.11 3.48 3.71 4.08 

22 .91 1.67 2.27 2.77 3.18 3.52 3.79 4.06 

24 .92 1.65 2.29 2.80 3.18 3.56 3.85 4.07 

26 .92 1.68 2.28 2.82 3.22 3.60 3.90 4.09 

28 .91 1.68 2.27 2.81 3.23 3.63 3.91 4.12 

From Table 6, pg. 9, Tech. Bull. No. 1104, Jan. 1955, USDA 

1.7 
1.8 Composite Table: Gross Volume1

 in Board Feet (Scribner Rule) 

by Number of 16-Foot Logs 

DBH Volume when number of 16-foot logs is: 

1⁄2 1 11⁄2 2 21⁄2 3 31⁄2 4 5 

Board 

feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

Board 

Feet 

8 10 16 24 31 

9 13 23 31 39 46 

10 17 30 40 49 57 62 

11 22 38 51 62 71 78 

12 28 48 66 78 89 100 108 

13 34 59 81 96 112 126 138 145 

14 40 70 96 116 141 160 170 178 

15 47 81 113 137 166 188 204 220 

16 54 93 129 158 191 224 248 263 

17 63 106 148 182 218 257 285 308 340 

18 72 122 168 207 248 292 325 355 395 

19 81 137 190 234 280 328 368 405 455 

20 90 156 212 262 317 366 415 450 520 

21 100 173 238 293 351 405 460 505 585 

22 111 194 262 328 392 450 510 560 660 

23 123 215 290 360 435 500 560 620 730 

24 137 236 319 400 470 550 620 690 800 

25 149 258 348 440 520 600 680 760 880 

26 165 281 381 480 565 650 740 820 950 

27 179 305 415 520 620 710 800 890 1,030 

28 195 331 450 560 670 760 860 960 1,120 

29 210 356 485 600 720 830 930 1,030 1,200 

30 227 383 520 650 770 890 1,000 1,110 1,290 

31 245 410 560 700 830 950 1,080 1,200 1,380 

32 260 440 600 740 890 1,020 1,150 1,280 1,470 

33 279 470 640 790 950 1,080 1,230 1,370 1,560 

34 294 500 680 840 1,010 1,160 1,300 1,460 1,670 

35 312 530 720 900 1,080 1,230 1,390 1,560 1,790 

36 330 565 770 960 1,140 1,310 1,480 1,650 1,900 

37 349 600 820 1,020 1,210 1,390 1,570 1,750 2,010 

38 365 630 860 1,070 1,270 1,470 1,660 1,840 2,120 

39 384 660 900 1,130 1,330 1,550 1,750 1,940 2,240 

40 405 700 950 1,180 1,400 1,630 1,850 2,050 2,350 

1

The bold figures in the upper portion of the table show volume to a top diameter of 6.0

or more, but less than 8.0 inches and hence are applicable only to softwoods. 

From USDA Tech. Bull. #1104, Jan. 1955. 

1.8 
1.9 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Rough Cords to a Variable 

Top Diameter Inside Bark, by Number of Bolts1 

DBH Volume When Number of Bolts is: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Cords Cords Cords Cords Cords Cords Cords Cords 

4 0.007 0.011 

5 .011 .019 0.022 

6 .017 .028 .040 0.047 

7 .023 .038 .053 .068 0.076 

8 .031 .050 .068 .087 .106 0.116 

9 .040 .065 .088 .109 .130 .153 0.170 

10 .049 .082 .111 .133 .160 .188 .211 

11 .060 .100 .137 .165 .190 .221 .250 0.270 

12 .070 .121 .165 .198 .225 .260 .300 .330 

13 .082 .143 .197 .236 .268 .305 .350 .42 

14 .095 .167 .228 .273 .311 .353 .40 .47 

15 .107 .193 .262 .318 .364 .41 .46 .52 

16 .122 .220 .300 .367 .42 .47 .53 .59 

17 .138 .250 .340 .42 .48 .54 .59 .66 

18 .155 .282 .382 .47 .55 .60 .65 .73 

19 .173 .318 .43 .53 .61 .68 .73 .81 

20 .194 .353 .48 .59 .68 .76 .81 .89 

21 .217 .395 .54 .66 .76 .84 .90 .98 

22 .240 .44 .60 .73 .84 .93 1.00 1.07 

23 .262 .48 .66 .80 .92 1.03 1.10 1.17 

24 .288 .52 .72 .88 1.00 1.12 1.21 1.28 

25 .312 .58 .78 .96 1.10 1.23 1.33 1.38 

26 .340 .62 .84 1.04 1.19 1.33 1.44 1.51 

27 .363 .67 .91 1.13 1.29 1.45 1.56 1.63 

28 .388 .72 .97 1.20 1.38 1.55 1.67 1.76 

29 .41 .76 1.03 1.29 1.49 1.66 1.80 1.90 

30 .43 .80 1.10 1.37 1.59 1.70 1.93 2.04 1 The bold figures in the upper portion of the table are to a minimum top diameter 

(inside bark) of 3.0 or more, but less than 4.0 inches. Other top diameters are 

variable but not less than 4.0 inches. 

From USDA Tech. Bull. #1104, Jan. 1955 

1.9 
1.10 R-9 Cubic Foot Volume Table – Cordwood 

DBH 

(inches) 

Cubic Feet Inside Bark to Variable Top Diameter When the Number 

of 8-Foot Bolts is: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

6 1.3 2.2 3.2 

8 2.4 3.9 5.4 6.9 8.4 

10 3.9 6.5 8.8 10.5 12.6 14.9 

12 5.5 9.6 13.0 15.6 17.8 20.5 23.7 

14 7.5 13.2 18.0 21.6 24.6 27.9 31.6 37.1 

16 9.6 17.4 23.7 29.0 33.2 37.1 41.9 46.6 

18 12.2 22.3 30.2 37.1 43.4 47.4 51.3 57.7 

20 15.3 27.9 37.9 46.6 53.7 60.0 64.0 70.3 

22 19.0 34.8 47.4 57.7 66.4 73.5 79.0 84.5 

24 22.8 41.1 56.9 69.5 79.0 88.5 95.6 101.1 

26 26.9 49.0 66.4 82.2 94.0 105.1 113.8 119.3 

28 30.7 56.9 76.6 94.8 109.0 122.4 131.9 139.0 

30 34.0 63.2 86.9 108.2 125.6 134.3 152.5 161.2 

This table is based on Table 6 of LSFES Technical Bulletin 1104 and a conversion 

of 0.79 Cc.f. per cord (or 1.266 cord/Cc.f.). Top diameter is variable but not less 

than 4 inches. 

1.10 
1.11 R-9 Cubic Foot Volume Table - Sawtimber 

DBH 

(inches) 

Cubic Feet Inside Bark in Sawlog. Portion of 

Stems When Number of 8-Foot Bolts is: 

Approximate 

Board Foot: 

Cubic foot 

ratios 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Scribner 

Dec. C 

Int. 

1⁄4" 

8 2 4 6 7 4.3 

10 4 7 9 11 14 15 4.4 5.8 

12 5 10 13 16 19 22 25 5.0 6.0 

14 7 13 18 22 27 30 34 37 5.3 6.0 

16 10 17 23 29 35 40 44 48 52 5.5 6.1 

18 12 22 29 36 44 50 56 61 66 70 5.7 6.4 

20 15 28 36 45 54 62 69 75 81 86 5.9 6.5 

22 18 33 44 54 65 75 84 91 98 105 6.1 6.6 

24 22 39 52 65 78 89 99 109 117 124 6.2 6.7 

26 26 46 61 76 91 104 117 127 137 146 6.3 6.7 

28 30 53 70 88 106 121 136 148 159 169 6.4 6.7 

30 34 61 81 101 122 139 156 170 183 194 6.4 6.8 

32 39 70 92 115 139 158 178 193 208 221 6.5 6.8 

34 44 78 104 130 156 179 201 218 235 250 6.6 6.9 

36 49 88 117 146 175 200 225 244 263 280 6.6 6.9 

38 55 98 130 163 195 223 251 272 293 312 6.6 6.9 

40 61 109 144 180 216 247 278 302 325 346 6.6 7.0 

This table is based on data contained in LSFES Technical Note 382 and LSFES 

Technical Bulletin 1104 (Table 20). Merchantable height is measured above a 

1-foot stump to a point on the stem where merchantability is limited by branches, 

defects, deformity, or a minimum top diameter of 8 inches inside the bark. 

1.11 
1.12 Stave Bolt and Heading Bolt Volumes in Standing Trees 

Stave Bolts 

DBH 

(inches) 

Number of 39-inch Cuts 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Volume in Cord Feet 

12 1.6 3.0 

14 2.8 5.4 7.0 

16 3.3 6.3 8.4 10.0 

18 3.9 7.4 10.7 13.7 16.5 19.1 

20 4.2 8.2 12.1 15.6 18.9 21.9 24.7 

22 4.9 9.4 13.6 17.6 21.5 25.0 28.3 

24 5.2 10.2 15.1 19.6 23.8 27.8 31.7 

26 6.0 11.6 16.8 21.8 26.7 31.2 35.4 

28 6.5 12.7 18.7 24.3 29.5 34.5 39.4 

30 9.3 16.0 22.5 28.7 34.7 40.3 45.2 

32 11.5 21.9 31.2 37.9 44.4 50.6 56.6 

34 12.2 24.1 35.6 46.0 55.3 62.0 68.5 

36 14.1 27.2 39.4 51.3 62.8 73.2 82.5 

Heading Bolts 

DBH

 (in.) 

Number of 24-inch Cuts 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

Volume in Cord Feet 

18 4.6 9.2 13.7 18.1 22.3 

20 5.1 10.2 15.2 20.1 24.9 29.5 34.0 38.4 42.7 

22 5.6 11.2 16.7 22.1 27.3 32.4 37.3 42.0 46.5 50.7 

24 6.1 12.0 17.6 22.9 27.9 32.6 37.0 41.0 44.9 48.5 

26 6.7 13.1 19.2 25.0 30.5 35.7 40.6 45.2 49.5 53.0 

28 7.2 14.1 20.7 27.0 33.0 38.7 44.1 49.2 54.0 58.5 

30 7.7 15.1 22.2 29.0 35.5 41.7 47.6 53.2 58.5 63.5 

32 8.2 16.1 23.7 31.0 38.0 44.7 51.1 57.2 63.0 68.5 

From: University of Missouri AGR. EXT. SVC. CIR 671 and EXT. SVC. Kansas State 

University, 3A-574-4-500. 

1.12 
1.13 Number of Cords Per MBF and Number of Board Feet Per 

Cord by Tree Diameters for Pine Timber (International 1⁄4" Rule) 

DBH Board Feet 

Per Cord Cords Per MBF 

10 288 3.5 

12 342 2.9 

14 378 2.6 

16 405 2.5 

18 423 2.4 

20 432 2.3 

22 441 2.3 

24 450 2.2 

Note: Cords are 128 cubic feet and includes all of the stem to a diameter of 4 

inches outside of bark. 

1.13 
1.14 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Number of 16-Foot Logs 

(International 1⁄4 inch Log Rule) 

DBH 

(inches) 

Number of 16-foot Logs in Tree 

1⁄2 1 11⁄2 2 21⁄2 3 31⁄2 4 

Contents in Board Feet 

12 30 60 80 100 120 

14 40 80 110 140 160 180 

16 60 100 150 180 210 250 280 310 

18 70 140 190 240 280 320 360 400 

20 90 170 240 300 350 400 450 500 

22 110 210 290 360 430 490 560 610 

24 130 250 350 430 510 590 660 740 

26 160 300 410 510 600 700 790 880 

28 190 350 480 600 700 810 920 1020 

30 220 410 550 690 810 930 1060 1180 

32 260 470 640 790 940 1080 1220 1360 

34 290 530 730 900 1060 1220 1380 1540 

36 330 600 820 1010 1200 1380 1560 1740 

38 370 670 910 1130 1340 1540 1740 1940 

40 420 740 1010 1250 1480 1700 1920 2160 

42 460 820 1100 1360 1610 1870 2120 2360 

1.14 
1.15 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Board Feet by Number of 

16-Foot Logs (Doyle Log Rule) 

DBH 

(inches) 

Number of 16-foot Logs in Tree 

1⁄2 1 11⁄2 2 21⁄2 3 31⁄2 4 

Contents in Board Feet 

12 20 30 40 50 60 

14 30 50 70 80 90 100 

16 40 70 100 120 140 160 180 190 

18 60 100 130 160 200 220 240 260 

20 80 130 180 220 260 300 320 360 

22 100 170 230 280 340 380 420 460 

24 130 220 290 360 430 490 540 600 

26 160 260 360 440 520 590 660 740 

28 190 320 430 520 620 710 800 880 

30 230 380 510 630 740 840 940 1040 

32 270 440 590 730 860 990 1120 1220 

34 300 510 680 850 1000 1140 1300 1440 

36 350 580 780 970 1140 1310 1480 1640 

38 390 660 880 1100 1290 1480 1680 1860 

40 430 740 990 1230 1450 1660 1880 2080 

42 470 830 1100 1370 1620 1860 2100 2320 

1.15 
1.16 Composite Table: Gross Volume in Number of 16-Foot Logs 

(Scribner) 

DBH 

1⁄2 1 11⁄2 2 21⁄2 3 31⁄2 

Contents in Board Feet 

12 47 61 75 85 95 100 106 

14 69 92 114 130 146 156 166 

16 95 127 159 185 211 229 247 

18 123 166 209 244 280 306 331 

20 157 214 270 317 364 398 432 

22 194 266 338 398 458 504 549 

24 234 322 409 484 558 611 665 

26 281 388 494 585 676 745 814 

28 327 452 578 686 795 877 959 

30 382 530 678 806 933 1028 1124 

32 440 612 784 936 1089 1206 1322 

34 498 695 892 1066 1239 1373 1507 

36 563 789 1015 1216 1416 1572 1728 

38 629 882 1135 1366 1596 1769 1942 

40 703 988 1274 1532 1791 1993 2195 

1.16 
1.17 Volume Distribution (Percent) 

Bolt # 

60-64 2-100 8 

56-60 3-100 

52-56 Cumulative % 

Volume (rounded) 3-100 4-90 7 

48-52 3-100 4-90 

44-48 Actual % Volume 

by 4' Bolts 5-100 4-90 4-90 6 

40-44 5-90 5-90 5-80 

36-40 7-100 6-90 6-80 6-80 5 

32-36 7-90 7-80 7-80 6-70 

28-32 9-100 8-90 7-80 7-70 6-70 4 

24-28 10-90 9-80 8-70 7-60 7-60 

20-24 13-100 11-80 9-70 9-60 8-60 8-50 3 

16-20 14-90 11-70 10-60 9-50 9-50 8-40 

12-16 21-100 15-70 12-60 11-50 9-40 9-40 8-40 2 

8-12 23-80 17-60 14-50 12-40 11-30 10-30 9-30 

4-8 39-100 26-60 19-40 16-30 13-30 12-20 11-20 10-20 1 

0-4 61-60 30-30 22-20 17-20 14-10 12-10 11-10 10-10 

8'6" 12'6" 21'0" 29'0" 37'6" 45'6" 54'0" 62'0" 

Min. 

Merch. 

Ht. 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Merchantable Height - 8' Bolts 

Merchantable Height must exceed this figure to qualify (exception 1 bolt heights). 

Example: A sugar maple sawtimber tree has a merchantable height of 5 bolts 

to 7.6" top and 8 bolts to a 4.0" top with the first and sixth bolts being cull. The 

sawlog defect would be 30 percent and the pulpwood defect 40 percent. 

1.17 
1.18 Rate of Growth (Growth Factor Table) 

DBH Rings Per Inch 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

4" .282 .225 .188 .161 .141 .125 .113 .102 .094 .087 .080 .075 

5" .220 .177 .147 .126 .110 .098 .088 .080 .073 .068 .063 .059 

6" .181 .145 .121 .103 .091 .080 .072 .065 .060 .056 .052 .048 

7" .153 .123 .103 .088 .077 .068 .061 .056 .051 .047 .044 .041 

8" .133 .106 .089 .076 .067 .059 .053 .048 .044 .041 .038 .035 

9" .116 .093 .078 .067 .058 .052 .047 .042 .039 .036 .033 .031 

10" .105 .084 .070 .060 .053 .047 .042 .038 .035 .032 .030 .028 

11" .095 .076 .063 .054 .047 .042 .038 .034 .032 .029 .027 .025 

12" .087 .070 .058 .050 .044 .039 .035 .032 .029 .027 .025 .023 

13" .080 .064 .053 .046 .040 .035 .032 .029 .027 .025 .023 .021 

14" .074 .059 .049 .042 .037 .033 .030 .027 .025 .024 .021 .020 

15" .069 .055 .046 .039 .034 .031 .028 .025 .023 .021 .020 .018 

16" .064 .052 .043 .037 .032 .029 .026 .023 .021 .020 .018 .017 

17" .061 .048 .040 .035 .030 .027 .024 .022 .020 .019 .017 .016 

18" .057 .046 .038 .033 .029 .025 .023 .021 .019 .018 .016 .015 

19" .054 .043 .036 .031 .027 .024 .022 .020 .018 .017 .015 .014 

20" .051 .041 .034 .029 .025 .023 .020 .019 .017 .016 .015 .014 

21" .049 .039 .033 .028 .024 .022 .020 .018 .016 .015 .014 .013 

22" .046 .037 .031 .027 .023 .021 .019 .017 .015 .014 .013 .012 

Procedures 

1. Determine Growth Factor by applying average DBH and average rings per inch 

to above table. 

2. Compute annual rate of growth of Basal Area, Cords, Tons, Board Feet (International), or Cubic Feet by multiplying amount of good growing stock in each 

category by the Growth Factor. 

3. Multiply Growth Factor by 100 for growth percent. 

1.18 
1.19 Guide for Hardwood Tree Grading Based on Butt Log 

Minimum DBH Based 

on Form Class 80 

Clearcutting in Grading 

Face of Best 12' Section1 

Cull Percent in 

Grading Section 

Min. 

Length 

per 

Cutting 

Max. # of 

Cuttings 

per Face 

Min. 

Total 

Length/ 

Face 

Max. 

Sweep 

% 

Max. 

Total 

Cull % 

Grading Section 

0-12' 2-14' 4-16' 

Grade 1 

13.52 14.02 14.52 10' 1 10' 

15% 40% 

14.7 15.3 15.8 10' 1 10' 

18.2 18.9 19.5 5' 2 10' 

22.5 23.5 24.5 3' 2 10' 

Grade 2 

Surface must be Grade 1 

(10.8) 11.2 11.6 12.0 15% 40% 

(11.5) 12.4 12.9 13.3 3' 2 8' (6') 30% 50%4 

(12.6) 13.5 14.0 14.5 3' 33 8' (6') 30% 50%4 

Grade 3 

(8.2) 8.9 9.2 9.5 2' Unlimited 6' (4') 50% 50%5 

Grade 4 

(8.2) 8.9 9.2 9.5 No requirements6 7 8 

1

Specs in ( ) are applicable to trees with only 8' of merchantable height - 8 foot 

grading section.
 2

Ash and basswood only.
 3

Limited to two cuttings for trees with 8-11' of merchantable height.
 4

60% allowed if otherwise grade 1 quality.
 5

60% allowed if otherwise grade 2 quality.
 6

Sound surface defects: Any number of knots or holes admitted provided the 

diameter of individual knots or holes or the sum of the diameter of whorled knots 

does not exceed 1/3 of the log diameter at point of occurence. No holes admitted 

if they extend over 3" into the included timber, which is always square and 

dimension is judged from small end. Unsound surface defects: same requirements 

as for sound defects if they extend into the included timber. No limit if they do not.
 7

25% for every 8' of length. 

8

Allowance for sweep plus cull outside included timber. See footnote #6 for 

limitations on defect (rot, etc.) that extends into the included timber.

 Note: Grade 4 applicable to construction (Tie and Timber) logs. 

1.19 
1.20a Relaskop / Spiegel Relaskop© 

A sophisticated, compact and robust instrument for measuring height, 

diameter, basal area, and range. Has a variety of scales for the different 

uses. 

Height Measurement 

70 

10 

20 

60 

50 

35° 

30° 

25° 

5° 

10° 

15° 

Bottom measurement Top measurement 

There are three height scales (20, 25, and 30 m) on the standard metric 

version. (The wide angle Spiegel relaskop has a larger number of height 

scales). All the height scales are visible when sighting but they are not 

identified. 

General instruction for use of the Relaskop for measuring height: 

1. Measure the desired horizontal distance from the base of the tree (or 

point directly beneath the tree tip) to a location where the required 

point (e.g. tree tip) can be seen; 

2. Sight at the required point, while holding the break button to allow the 

scales to freely rotate; 

3. Read the height from the appropriate scale once the scale has settled. 

Tapping and releasing the break button can help the scales to settle 

more quickly; 

4. Sight to the base of the tree and repeat the above two steps; and 

5. Add the heights together to get total tree height. 

1.20a 
Diameter Measurement 

5° 

10° 

15° 

25 

15 

20 From a horizontal 

distance of 66 feet: 

Closeup of diameter bars 

General instruction for use of the Relaskop for measuring diameter: 

1. Measure the desired horizontal distance (H metres) from the base of 

the tree (or point directly beneath the desired tree site) to a location 

where the required point (e.g. change in diameter) can be seen. 

Note that you must be at least 5 m away for every 20 cm anticipated 

diameter; 

2. Sight at the required point, while holding the break button to allow the 

scales to freely rotate; 

3. Read from the diameter scale once the scale has settled the number 

of large bands (with the number 1 printed on them) (L); the number 

of small bands (4 narrow bands immediately to the right of the large 1 

band) (S); and an estimate of any fractional small band (s). Estimate 

the fractions of the small band as 0.2 (just into the band), 0.4 (almost 

half), 0.6 (just over half), 0.8 (amost full narrow band). 

4. Diameter is calculated as d (cm) = H*(L+0.25*(S+s))*2; 

Check to ensure the diameter appears correct. Note that L will be 0 or 1, 

S will be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and s will be a fraction less than 1.0. 

If the sample tree above was 20 m away, the diameter would be: 

d (cm) = 20 * (1+0.25*(3+0.2)) * 2

 = 72 cm 

1.20b 
- - -

Measuring Basal Area with the Relaskop 

Closeup of BAF scale 

5° 

10° 

5 

15 

10 

10 

20 

The original instrument of BITTERLICH was called a RELASKOP. It 

comprised a 1 metre rod with a 2 cm wide opaque blade mounted at one 

end at right angles to the rod axis - this generated the reference angle. 

Disadvantages of Relaskop 

• The instrument requires a simultaneous alignment by eye of four lines, 

the two reference marks, and the two sides of the tree. 

• Slight movement of the tree or the instrument interferes with the 

alignment. 

These disadvantages become most apparent in use in the approximate 

BORDERLINE situation, i.e. the situation where the reference angle and 

the angle subtended by the tree are about the same. 

Bitterlich, over the years, has repeatedly modified the original Relaskop. 

The latest model is a compact, multipurpose instrument called the 

SPIEGEL RELASKOP which can be used to measure tree height, stand 

height, tree diameter at any height from ground, stand basal area, and 

miscellaneous other tree/stand parameters. 

The Spiegel Relaskop incorporates reflected scale images which allow a 

choice of as many as nine basal area factors. Through an adjustment of 

the calibration on the internal scale, the instrument automatically corrects 

for slope. 

1.20c 
However, the disadvantages of the original Relaskop still apply to the 

latest Spiegel Relaskop. 

Checking Doubtful Trees when Angle Counting using Bitterlich’s 

Spiegel Relaskop 

(Also see Wood, G.B. 1982. Checking borderline trees by Spiegel 

Relaskop. Aust. For. 45(1):57-8). 

Bitterlich’s Spiegel Relaskop is a most versatile instrument for forest 

measurement. It is particularly useful and efficient for estimating stand 

basal area per unit area but has the disadvantage that it cannot establish 

precisely whether doubtful trees are in, out, or truly borderline. Such cases 

occur on average in about 10% of the trees counted in an angle count 

sweep. 

Precise estimation of stand basal area by Relaskop requires that 

all doubtful trees be checked by direct measurement. Checking is 

complicated by the fact that efficient use of the Relaskop requires the 

brake to be freed which corrects automatically for slope. This must be 

allowed for in calculating limiting or borderline slope distances. 

The ready availability today of pocket calculators enables limiting slope 

distances for doubtful trees to be calculated quickly in the field using the 

formula: 

Limiting slope distance (metres) = d (cm) × Sec ÿ x K 

where d is DBHob, preferably measured by caliper at right angles to the 

line of sight from the observer. 

and ÿ is the angle of slope from the observer’s eye to the breast height 

mark. 

Values of K for the nine bands or band combinations of the standard 

metric relaskop are presented in Table. Comparison of the calculated 

limiting slope distance with the measured slope distance then determines 

whether the doubtful tree is in, out, or truly borderline. 

1.20d 
K values for determining limiting distances when sweeping by standard 

Spiegel Relaskop with the brake freed. 

Band BAF K 

1 narrow band (NB) 0.0625 2 

2 NB 0.25 1 

3 NB 0.5625 0.6 

1 1.0 0.5
 

1+1 NB 1.5625 0.4
 

1+2 NB 2.25 0.3
 

1+3 NB 3.0625 0.2857
 

2 2.0 0.3536 

4 4.0 0.25 

Derivation of K: 

BAF = 2500 (d/D)^2 /10 000, where d is DBHob (cm) and D is the limiting 

distance (m). 

In the true borderline situation, d/D is constant. Hence D = d.K. 

Substituting for D in the equation, we have: 

K = 0.5/_BAF. 

Dr. Walter Bitterlich, who pioneered this approach, sees a bright future 

for further enhancement of the Relaskop. See his articles: 

Bitterlich, W. (1984) The Relaskop idea. Commonwealth Agricultural 

Bureau. 

Bitterlich, W. (1990) A comprehensive concept of tree and stand 

measurements. Proceedings from Session S4.01 Mensuration, Growth 

and Yield at the world congress of the IUFRO. Montreal, Canada. 

August 5-11. p. 1-12. 

1.20e 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.21 Shortcut Formulas for Determining Volumes with a 10-Factor 

Prism or Gauge –Pulpwood (Cords) 

1.	 Average number of countable trees per sample (average 

number of 8-foot sticks per tree +1) cords = 2	 per acre 

Example:	 The countable trees averaged 2.5 8-foot sticks. 

The average number of countable trees per sample was 6. 

6(2.5+1) = 10.5 cords per acre 2

2. Number of 8-foot sticks in countable trees + 

number of countable trees cords = per acre 2 × number of point samples 

Example: 48 trees were tallied. 120 8-foot sticks were tallied in 

countable trees. 8 samples were taken. 

120+ 48 = 10.5 cords per acre 2 × 8

3. Number of 8-foot sticks in countable trees ×* 

= cords per acre

number of point samples 

* Use: 0.9 if trees average 1 stick; 0.7 if trees average 2 sticks; 0.65 if 

trees average 3 sticks; 0.6 if trees average 4 or more sticks. 

Example: 10 samples were taken. 132 8-foot sticks were counted. 

Average number of sticks per tree - 2. 

132 × 0.7 = 9.24cords per acre 10 

4. Cords can be converted to tons by using the appropriate TONS PER STANDARD 

 CORD RATIO in Section 2.10. 

1.21 
688,1=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.22 Rule of Thumb Shortcut Formulas for Determining Volumes 

with a 10-Factor Prism or Gauge – SAWTIMBER 

(Board Feet – International Rule) 

1. Number of 16-foot logs in countable trees ×* = board feet per acre number of point samples

 *Use: 750 if trees average 1 log 

660 if trees average 1.5 logs 

625 if trees average 2.0 logs 

600 if trees average 2.5 logs 

580 if trees average 3.0 logs 

Example: 8 point samples were taken. 

22.5 16-foot logs were tallied in countable trees. 

Average number of logs per tree – 2.5

22.5×600 = 1,688 board feet per acre 8

2. To determine approximate Doyle Rule volume, apply factor from 

following table to the calculated International Rule volume: 

Average DBH Factor

 12" .50

 16" .65

 20" .75

 24" .85

 28" .90

 32" .95 

1.22 
1.23 Ratios for Cruising by Basal Area 

I. Sawtimber – Basal area / board foot ratios by various merchantable 

lengths: 

1.0 – 16-foot log – 75 BF to 1 square foot 

1.5 – 16-foot log – 100 BF to 1 square foot 

2.0 – 16-foot log – 125 BF to 1 square foot 

2.5 – 16-foot log – 150 BF to 1 square foot 

3.0 – 16-foot log – 175 BF to 1 square foot 

3.5 – 16-foot log – 200 BF to 1 square foot 

Ratios for other numbers of 16-foot logs can be computed by using the 

following formula: 

25 + (average number of logs per tree × 50) = BF / sq. ft. ratio 

Example: Average number of 16-foot logs per tree is 2.72. 

25 + (2.72 × 50) = 161 BF to 1 square foot 

To obtain board foot volume, multiply ratio by number of square feet of 

basal area involved. 

II. Pulpwood or Firewood – Basal area / cord ratios by various 

merchantable lengths: 

1 – 8 ́ stick – .089 cords to 1 square foot
	

2 – 8 ́ stick – .143 cords to 1 square foot
	

3 – 8 ́ stick – .195 cords to 1 square foot
	

4 – 8 ́ stick – .249 cords to 1 square foot
	

5 – 8 ́ stick – .302 cords to 1 square foot
	

Ratios for other numbers of 8-foot sticks can be computed by using the 

following formula: 

[.037 + average number of sticks per tree × .053] = 

cords / sq. ft. ratio 

Example: Average number of 8-foot sticks per tree is 3.3. 

.037 + (3.3 × .053) = .2119 cords to 1 square foot 

To obtain cord volume, multiply ratio by number of square feet of basal 

area involved. 

1.23 
1.24 Quick Cruise Computer Volume – Cords (1 Stick = 8 Ft.) 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

60 

70 

80 

90 

100 

Basal Area (Sq. Ft.) 

1 Stick 2 Sticks 3 Sticks 4 Sticks 5 Sticks 6 Sticks 7 Sticks 

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
 

Volume (Cords)
 

1.24 
1.25 Quick Cruise Computer Volume – Board Feet - Int. 

(1 Log = 16 Ft.) 

Basal Area (Sq. Ft.) 

1 Log 1.5 Logs 2 Logs 2.5 Logs 3 Logs 3.5 Logs 

100 

90 

4 Logs 80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

Volume (Thousands Board Feet) 

1.25 
1.26 Shortcut Calculations for Growth

 

1.26 Shortcut Calculations for Growth 

1. Rule-of-thumb for Central Hardwoods: 

Estimated No. of trees per 

acre above 9 ̋ DBH 

× * = Annual growth rate

 (board feet) 

* Insert: 5 for good site 

4 for average site 

3 for poor site 

2. Quick growth computation for an individual tree: 

Future volume after increment 

of 2 ̋ DBH – present volume = Annual growth

 RPI 

3. Shortcut growth formulas: 

a. 4 × volume per acre = Growth/acre/year DBH × RPI (volume)

 b. 4 × basal area per acre = Growth/acre/year DBH × RPI (basal area) 

c. Ingrowth: 

(1) No. of 10 ̋ DBH trees/acre × 5 = BF ingrowth/

acre/year 

(2) Basal area in 10 ̋ DBH trees × 91.5 = Board feet/

RPI acre/year 

1.26 
Scaling 

2.1 Pulpwood Measurements (Standing Trees) Cords
 

2.2 Cord Equivalents – Pulpwood Sticks
 

2.3 Number of 8-foot Bolts per Standard Cord
 

2.4 Diameter at Breast Height and Stump Diameter 

Relationships
 

2.5a Scaling Defect Deduction Table International 1⁄4 Dec. Log Rule
 

2.5b Sawlog Scale Deduction for Sweep Percent of Gross Scale
 

2.5c Scaling Defect Deduction Table (Scribner Decimal C)
 

2.6 Scribner Decimal C Log Rule
 

2.7 Log Scale International 1⁄4 Inch Decimal Rule
 

2.8 Board Foot Content of Logs (Doyle Rule)
 

2.9 Comparision of Log Rules
 

2.10 Weight Table for Various Woods
 

2.11 Lumber Scale
 

2.12 Tons Per Tree When Cut in the Following Lengths 

(Central Hardwoods)
 

2.1 Pulpwood Measurements
 

(Standing Trees)
 

CORDS
 

DBH 

(Inches) 

8-Foot Sticks 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

5 .010 .018 

6 .018 .030 .043 

7 .025 .039 .056 .074 

8 .032 .050 .070 .092 .116 

9 .040 .061 .085 .112 .140 .168 

10 .049 .074 .101 .132 .167 .200 .239 

11 .059 .087 .119 .155 .195 .233 .280 

12 .070 .100 .138 .180 .225 .271 .324 

14 .095 .134 .179 .233 .291 .351 .419 

16 .120 .168 .222 .290 .361 .437 .521 

18 .146 .208 .270 .350 .439 .531 .634 

20 .186 .246 .320 .416 .522 .632 .755 

22 .220 .294 .374 .494 .612 .739 .883 

Source: S. R. Gevorkiantz, Lake States Forest Experiment Station Technical 

Note No. 241, 1945. 

2.1 
2.2 Cord Equivalents – Pulpwood Sticks 

Top Volume Per Unpeeled Stock in Cords 

Diameter 

Inside Bark 

Spruce and 

Balsam 

Jack and 

Red Pine 

Aspen and 

Hardwood Hemlock 

3 .006 .006 .007 .006 

4 .010 .011 .011 .011 

5 .015 .016 .017 .017 

6 .021 .023 .023 .024 

7 .029 .029 .030 .030 

8 .036 .037 .038 .038 

9 .045 .045 .045 .048 

10 .056 .056 .056 .059 

11 .067 .067 .071 .071 

12 .077 .077 .077 .083 

13 .091 .091 .091 .100 

14 .1 .1 .1 .111 

15 .111 .111 .111 .125 

16 .125 .125 .125 .143 

17 .143 .143 .143 .167 

18 .167 .167 .167 .2 

20 .2 .2 .2 .250 

22 .250 .250 

24 .333 .333 

2.2 
2.3 Number of 8-foot Bolts per Standard Cord1 

Average top diameter 

bolts inside bark 

(inch) 

Number of unpeeled 8-foot bolts 

per standard cord1 

Spruce and 

Balsam-fir

Jack and 

Red Pine Aspen Hemlock 

3 165 155 150 155 

4 98 91 89 90 

5 65 61 60 59 

6 47 44 43 42 

7 35 34 33 33 

8 28 27 26 26 

9 22 22 22 21 

10 18 18 18 17 

12 13 13 13 12 

14 10 10 10 9 

16 7 7 7 7 

18 6 6 6 5 

20 5 5 5 4 

1

Table values apply to well-stocked stands. If bolts are cut from open-grown trees, 

smaller numbers of bolts are required, depending upon limbiness and crookedness. 

Example 1. Jack pine pulpwood averaging 51⁄2 inches at the small end requires 

about 52 bolts per standard cord. 

From L.S.F.E.S. Technical Notes 

2.3 
2.4 Diameter at Breast Height and Stump Diameter Relationships1 

Stump2 

Diameter (inches) 

Diameter at Breast Height 

Softwoods Hardwoods Aspen 

4.0 3 3 3 

5.0 4 4 4 

6.0 5 5 5 

7.0 6 6 6 

8.0 6 7 7 

9.0 7 7 7 

10.0 8 8 8 

11.0 9 9 9 

12.0 10 10 10 

13.0 11 11 11 

14.0 12 12 12 

15.0 13 13 13 

16.0 14 14 13 

17.0 15 14 14 

18.0 15 15 15 

19.0 16 16 16 

20.0 17 17 17 

21.0 18 18 18 

22.0 19 19 19 

23.0 20 20 19 

24.0 21 21 20 

25.0 22 21 21 

26.0 23 22 

27.0 23 23 

28.0 24 24 

29.0 25 25 

30.0 26 26 

31.0 27 27 

32.0 28 28 

33.0 29 28 

34.0 30 29 

35.0 31 30 

36.0 32 31 1

Data were collected in 1956 and 1957 in Minnesota.
 2

Stump diameters were measured at 12" above ground level for sawtimber and 

6" above ground level for smaller trees.
 

Note: Broken line separates sawtimber size from poletimber and sapling sizes.
 

From: Lake States Forest Experiment Station Technical Note #507.
 

2.4 
2.5a Scaling Defect Deduction Table 

International 1⁄4 Dec. Log Rule 

Deduction 

Bd. Ft. 

in Tens 

Defect Length in Feet 

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 

Defect End Area - Minimum Sq. Inches 

1 40 20 13 10 8 7 6 5 

2 120 60 40 30 24 20 17 15 

3 200 100 67 50 40 33 29 25 

4 280 140 93 70 56 47 40 35 

5 360 180 120 90 72 60 51 45 

6 440 220 147 110 88 73 63 55 

7 520 260 174 130 104 87 74 65 

8 600 300 200 150 120 100 86 75 

9 680 340 227 170 136 113 97 85 

10 380 254 190 152 127 108 95 

11 420 280 210 168 140 120 105 

12 460 306 230 184 153 131 115 

13 500 333 250 200 167 143 125 

14 540 360 270 216 180 154 135 

15 580 387 290 232 193 166 145 

16 414 310 248 207 177 155 

17 440 330 264 220 189 165 

18 467 350 280 234 200 175 

19 494 370 296 247 212 185 

20 520 390 312 260 223 195 

Example - End of defect measures 9" ×11" (99 sq. inches). Length of defect is 

12'. From defect length of 12' read down to 99 square inches or next smaller 

number found (in this case 87). Read across to find deduction of 7. 

2.5a 
2.5b Sawlog Scale Deduction for Sweep Percent of Gross Scale 

Absolute Scaling Diameter - Inches 

Sweep 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 

Inches 16- Foot Logs 

3 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 

4 25 22 20 18 17 15 14 13 12 12 11 11 10 9 

5 38 33 30 27 25 23 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 

6 50 44 40 36 33 31 29 27 25 24 22 21 20 18 

7 c 56 50 45 42 38 36 33 31 29 28 26 25 23 

8 c c 60 54 50 46 43 40 38 35 33 32 30 27 

9 c c c 64 58 54 50 47 44 41 39 37 35 32 

10 c c c c c 62 57 53 50 47 44 42 40 36 

Absolute 

Sweep 12- Foot Logs 

Inches

3 19 17 15 14 12 12 11 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 

4 31 28 25 23 21 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 

5 44 39 35 32 29 27 25 23 22 20 19 18 18 16 

6 56 50 45 41 38 35 32 30 28 28 25 24 22 20 

7 c 67 55 50 46 42 39 37 34 32 31 29 28 25 

8 c c 65 59 54 50 46 43 41 38 36 34 32 30 

9 c c c c 63 58 54 50 47 44 42 40 38 34 

10 c c c c c 66 61 57 53 50 47 45 42 39 

Absolute 

Sweep 8-Foot Logs 

Inches 

2 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 

3 25 22 20 18 17 15 14 13 12 12 11 11 10 9 

4 38 33 30 27 25 23 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 

5 50 44 40 36 33 31 29 27 25 24 22 21 20 18 

6 c 56 50 45 42 38 36 33 31 29 28 26 25 23 

7 c c 60 54 50 46 43 40 38 35 33 32 30 27 

8 c c c 64 58 54 50 47 44 41 39 37 35 32 

2.5b 
2.5c Scaling Defect Deduction Table 

(Scribner Decimal C) 

Deduction Defect Length in Feet Deduction 

Bd. Ft. 

in Tens 

Bd. Ft. 

in Tens 

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 

Defect End Area - Minmum Sq. In. 

1 38 19 13 10 8 7 6 5 1 

2 113 57 38 29 23 19 17 15 2 

3 188 94 63 47 38 32 27 24 3 

4 263 132 88 66 53 44 38 33 4 

5 338 169 113 85 68 57 49 43 5 

6 413 207 138 104 83 69 59 52 6 

7 488 244 163 122 98 82 70 61 7 

8 563 282 188 141 113 94 81 71 8 

9 638 319 213 160 128 107 92 80 9 

10 357 238 179 143 119 102 90 10 

11 394 263 197 158 132 113 99 11 

12 432 288 216 173 144 124 108 12 

13 469 313 235 188 157 134 118 13 

14 507 338 254 203 169 145 127 14 

15 544 363 272 218 182 156 136 15 

16 582 388 291 233 194 167 146 16 

17 619 413 310 248 207 177 155 17 

18 657 438 329 263 219 188 165 18 

19 463 347 278 232 199 174 19 

20 488 366 293 244 209 183 20 

Example - End of defect measures 9" ×11" (99 sq. inches). Length of defect 

is 12'. From defect length of 12' read down to 99 sq. inches or next smaller 

number found (in this case 94). Read across to find deduction of 8. 

2.5c 
2.6 Scribner Decimal C Log Rule 

Diameter 

(inches) 

Length of Log (feet) 

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 

Contents in Board Feet (tens) 

6 0.5 0.5 1 1 1 2 2 

7 0.5 1 1 2 2 3 3 

8 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 

9 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 

10 2 3 3 3 4 6 5 

11 2 3 4 4 5 7 8 

12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

13 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 

14 4 6 7 9 10 11 13 

15 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 

16 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 

17 7 9 12 14 16 18 21 

18 8 11 13 16 19 21 24 

19 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 

20 11 14 17 21 24 28 31 

21 12 15 19 23 27 30 34 

22 13 17 21 25 29 33 38 

23 14 19 23 28 33 38 42 

24 15 21 25 30 35 40 45 

25 17 23 29 34 40 46 52 

26 19 25 31 37 44 50 56 

27 21 27 34 41 48 55 62 

28 22 29 36 44 51 58 65 

29 23 31 38 46 53 61 68 

30 25 33 41 49 57 66 74 

31 27 36 44 53 62 71 80 

32 28 37 46 55 64 74 83 

33 29 39 49 59 69 78 88 

34 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 

35 33 44 55 66 77 88 98 

36 35 46 58 69 81 92 104 

37 39 51 64 77 90 103 116 

38 40 54 67 80 93 107 120 

39 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 

40 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 

Diameter given is for the small end of the log measured inside bark. 

Ref. USDA Forest Service Misc. Publication 225 

2.6 
2.7 Log Scale
 

International 1⁄4 Inch Decimal Rule
 

(Board Foot Volume) 

Diameter 

(Inches) 

Length of Log (feet) 

4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 

Contents in Board Feet 

4 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 10 

5 0 0 0 10 10 10 10 10 20 

6 0 5 10 10 15 15 20 20 30 

7 10 10 10 15 20 25 30 30 40 

8 10 10 15 20 25 35 40 50 50 

9 10 15 20 30 35 45 50 60 70 

10 10 20 30 35 45 55 65 80 90 

11 20 25 35 45 55 70 80 90 110 

12 20 30 45 55 70 85 95 110 130 

13 30 40 55 70 85 100 115 130 150 

14 30 45 65 80 100 115 135 160 180 

15 40 55 75 95 115 135 160 180 200 

16 40 60 85 110 130 155 180 210 230 

17 50 70 95 125 150 180 205 240 270 

18 50 80 110 140 170 200 230 270 300 

19 60 90 125 155 190 225 260 300 330 

20 70 100 135 175 210 250 290 330 370 

21 70 115 155 195 235 280 320 370 410 

22 80 125 170 215 260 305 355 400 450 

23 90 140 185 235 285 335 390 440 500 

24 100 150 205 255 310 370 425 480 540 

25 110 165 220 280 340 400 460 530 590 

26 120 180 240 305 370 435 500 570 640 

27 130 195 260 330 400 470 540 620 690 

28 140 210 280 355 430 510 585 660 740 

29 150 225 305 385 465 545 630 710 800 

30 160 245 325 410 495 585 675 770 860 

31 170 260 350 440 530 630 720 820 920 

32 180 280 370 470 570 670 770 870 980 

33 200 300 400 500 610 710 820 930 1040 

34 210 320 420 530 640 760 870 990 1110 

35 220 340 450 570 680 810 930 1050 1180 

36 230 360 480 600 730 850 980 1110 1240 

37 250 380 500 640 770 900 1040 1180 1320 

38 260 400 530 670 810 950 1100 1240 1390 

39 280 420 560 710 860 1010 1160 1310 1460 

40 290 440 590 750 900 1060 1220 1380 1540 

2.7 
 

2.8 Board Foot Content of Logs (Doyle Rule1) 

Diameter 

(Inches) 

Length of Log (feet) 

6 8 10 12 14 16 

Contents in Board Feet (tens) 

6 2 2 3 3 4 4 

7 3 5 6 7 8 9 

8 6 8 10 12 14 16 

9 9 13 16 19 22 25 

10 14 18 23 27 32 36 

11 18 25 31 37 43 49 

12 24 32 40 48 56 64 

13 30 41 51 61 71 81 

14 38 50 63 75 88 100 

15 45 61 76 91 106 121 

16 54 72 90 108 126 144 

17 63 85 106 127 148 169 

18 74 98 123 147 172 196 

19 84 113 141 169 197 225 

20 96 128 160 192 224 256 

21 108 145 181 217 253 289 

22 122 162 203 243 284 324 

23 135 181 226 271 316 361 

24 150 200 250 300 350 400 

25 165 221 276 331 386 441 

26 182 242 303 363 424 484 

27 198 265 331 397 463 529 

28 216 288 360 432 504 576 

29 234 313 391 469 547 625 

30 254 338 423 507 592 676 

(D - 4)2

1

The Doyle Rule is based on the formula 16 × L = Board feet, in which D is the 

diameter of the small end of the log, inside the bark in inches, and L is the length in 

feet. In spite of its inaccuracies when applied to small logs, this rule is used in some 

areas. It underscales average-sized logs by about 30 board feet. 

2.8 
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2.9 Comparison of Log Rules 

Top Diameter 

Inside Bark 

(inches) 

Board foot values for 16-foot logs for log rules and in percentage of 

International (for saws cutting a 1⁄4 inch kerf taken as a standard=100%) 

International 1⁄4 kerf Scribner Decimal C Doyle 

Bd. Ft. Bd. Ft. Percent Bd. Ft. Percent 

4 5 (10) 200 --­ --­

10 (10) 100 1 10 

6 20 20 100 4 20 

7 30 30 100 9 30 

8 40 30 75 16 40 

9 50 40 80 25 50 

65 60 92 36 55 

11 80 70 88 49 61 

12 95 80 84 64 67 

13 115 100 87 81 70 

14 135 110 81 100 74 

160 140 88 121 76 

16 180 160 89 144 80 

17 205 180 88 169 82 

18 230 210 91 196 85 

19 260 240 92 225 87 

290 280 97 256 88 

21 320 300 94 289 90 

22 355 330 93 324 91 

23 390 380 97 361 93 

24 425 400 94 400 94 

460 460 100 441 96 

26 500 500 100 484 97 

27 540 550 102 529 98 

28 585 580 99 576 98 

29 630 610 97 625 99 

675 660 98 676 100 

31 720 710 99 728 101 

32 770 740 96 784 102 

33 820 780 95 841 103 

34 875 800 91 900 103 

925 880 95 961 104 

36 980 920 94 1,024 104 

37 1,040 1,030 99 1,089 105 

38 1,095 1,070 98 1,156 106 

39 1,155 1,120 97 1,225 106 

1,220 1,200 98 1,296 106 

2.9 
2.10 Weight Table for Various Woods 

Weight Per 

Standard 

Cord 

(Pounds) 

Tons Per 

Standard 

Cord Ratio 

Weight Per 

1000 

B.F. of Green 

Lumber 

(Pounds) 

Weight 

Per Cubic 

Foot 

Green 

(Pounds) 

Weight 

Per Cubic 

Foot Air 

Dry 128 

Moisture 

Content 

Ash, white 4300 2.2 4000 48 41 

Aspen 3900 2.0 3600 42 27 

Basswood 3800 1.9 3500 41 26 

Beech 4900 2.5 4500 55 44 

Birch, yellow 5100 2.6 4800 58 43 

Birch, white 4500 2.3 4200 50 39 

Cedar, red 3300 1.7 3100 37 33 

Cedar, n. white 2500 1.3 2300 28 22 

Cherry, black 4000 2.0 3800 46 35 

Cottonwood 4400 2.2 4100 49 29 

Elm 5000 2.5 4600 56 37 

Gum, sweet/ 

black 4500 2.3 4200 45/50 35/34 

Hackberry 4500 2.3 4200 50 37 

Hemlock 4500 2.3 4200 49 28 

Hickory 5700 2.9 5300 64 51 

Locust, black 5200 2.6 4800 58 49 

Maple, hard 5300 2.7 4600 56 44 

Maple, soft 4300 2.2 3900 50 38 

Oak, red 5700 2.9 5200 63 44 

Oak, white 5600 2.8 5200 62 48 

Pine, red 3800 1.9 3500 42 33 

Pine, shortleaf 4700 2.4 4300 51 38 

Pine, white 3200 1.6 3000 36 25 

Poplar, yellow 3400 1.7 3200 38 28 

Spruce 3000 1.5 2800 34 28 

Sycamore 4700 2.4 4300 52 35 

Tamarack 4200 2.1 3900 47 37 

Walnut, black 5200 2.6 4800 58 39 

2.10 
2.11 Lumber Scale 

Thickness 

and Width 

Length of Board in Feet 

6 8 10 12 14 16 

Contents in Board Feet 

1×3 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 

1×4 2.0 2.6 3.3 4.0 4.6 5.3 

1×5 2.5 3.3 4.0 5.0 6.0 6.6 

1×6 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 

1×7 3.5 4.6 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.3 

1×8 4.0 5.3 6.6 8.0 9.3 10.6 

1×10 5.0 6.6 8.3 10.0 11.6 13.3 

1×12 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 

2×4 4.0 5.3 6.6 8.0 9.3 10.6 

2×6 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 

2×8 8.0 10.6 13.3 16.0 18.6 21.3 

2×10 10.0 13.3 16.6 20.0 23.3 26.6 

2×12 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0 28.0 32.0 

2×14 14.0 18.6 23.3 28.0 32.6 37.3 

3×6 9.0 12.0 15.0 18.0 21.0 24.0 

3×8 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0 28.0 32.0 

3×10 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 

3×12 18.0 24.0 30.0 36.0 42.0 48.0 

4×4 8.0 10.6 13.3 16.0 18.6 21.3 

6×6 18.0 24.0 30.0 36.0 42.0 48.0 

2.11 
2.12 Tons per Tree When Cut in the Following Lengths 

(Central Hardwoods) 

DBH 

8-Foot Sticks 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

6" .043 .070 .100 

8" .078 .125 .170 .218 .265 

10" .123 .205 .278 .333 .400 .470 

12" .175 .303 .413 .495 .563 .650 .750 

14" .238 .418 .570 .682 .778 .883 1.000 

16" .305 .550 .750 .918 1.050 1.175 1.325 

DBH 

6-Foot Sticks 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

6" .033 .058 .078 .100 

8" .058 .103 .140 .170 .205 

10" .093 .165 .230 .278 .313 .368 .420 .470 

12" .133 .230 .343 .413 .465 .530 .590 .650 

14" .178 .328 .473 .570 .640 .730 .818 .883 

16" .230 .428 .623 .750 .863 .985 1.103 1.175 

DBH 

5-Foot Sticks 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

5" .018 .035 

6" .028 .053 .068 .085 .105 

8" .048 .098 .115 .148 .178 .205 .235 .265 

10" .075 .150 .188 .243 .288 .313 .358 .400 .445 .490 

12" .109 .220 .275 .358 .420 .465 .515 .563 .620 .675 

14" .150 .298 .380 .495 .593 .640 .723 .778 .848 .918 

16" .190 .380 .500 .650 .780 .863 .958 1.050 1.138 1.223 

Piled Pulpwood
 

Length (ft.) × width (ft.) × height (ft.) = tons
 

51 

2.12 
Reforestation 

3.1 Number of Trees Per Acre by Various Methods of Spacing
 

3.2 Dichotomous Key for Field Identification of Soil Texture
 

3.3 Textural Classification of Soils
 

3.4a-d Seeds per Pound and Bushel
 

3.1 Number of Trees Per Acre by Various Methods of Spacing 

Spacing 

(Feet) 

Trees 

(Number) 

Spacing 

(Feet) 

Trees 

(Number) 

Spacing 

(Feet) 

Trees 

(Number) 

2×2 10,890 7×9 691 12×15 242 

3×3 4,840 7×10 622 12×18 202 

4×4 2,722 7×12 519 12×20 182 

4×5 2,178 7×15 415 12×25 145 

4×6 1,815 8×8 681 13×13 258 

4×7 1,556 8×9 605 13×15 223 

4×8 1,361 8×10 544 13×20 168 

4×9 1,210 8×12 454 13×25 134 

4×10 1,089 8×15 363 14×14 222 

5×5 1,742 8×25 218 14×15 207 

5×6 1,452 9×9 538 14×20 156 

5×7 1,245 9×10 484 14×25 124 

5×8 1,089 9×12 403 15×15 194 

5×9 968 9×15 323 15×20 145 

5×10 871 10×10 436 15×25 116 

6×6 1,210 10×12 363 16×16 170 

6×7 1,037 10×15 290 16×20 136 

6×8 908 10×18 242 16×25 109 

6×9 807 11×11 360 18×18 134 

6×10 726 11×12 330 18×20 121 

6×12 605 11×15 264 18×25 97 

6×15 484 11×20 198 20×20 109 

7×7 889 11×25 158 20×25 87 

7×8 778 12×12 302 25×25 70 

3.1 
3.2 Dichotomous Key for Field Identification of Soil Texture

A. Soil, when pinched between the thumb and finger, crumbles, will form no “ribbon.” 

B. Soil squeezed in the hand when dry, falls apart readily; Squeezed when moist, 

forms a cast that breaks if not handled very carefully. Individual sand grains can be 

readily seen and felt............................................................................Sandy Loam 

B. Soil squeezed in hand when dry, forms a cast that bears careful handling; 

Squeezed when moist, forms a cast that can be handled quite freely without 

breaking, Soil smooth sand grains not readily evident. 

C. Soil slightly plastic when moist, but not greasy. Gritty when dry, not floury. 

Color brown or dark grey.......................................................................... .Loam 

C. Soil greasy when moist, floury when dry. On wetting it runs together and 

puddles. Color light grey to nearly white.............................................Silt Loam 

A. Soil, when pinched between the thumb and finger, forms a ribbon, at least barely 

sustaining its own weight. 

D. Ribbon breaks easily, barely sustains own weight. 

E. Individual sand grains can readily be seen and felt. Moist soil friable. Color 

usually brownish yellow to brownish red................................Sandy Clay Loam 

E. Soil smooth, sand grains not evident. Moist soil somewhat plastic. 

F. Soil heavy and greasy when moist. Color dull grey, sometimes containing 

iron concretions....................................................................Silty Clay Loam 

F. Soil mellow and loose when moist. Color usually yellowish brown to reddish 

brown............................................................................................Clay Loam 

D. Ribbon is long and flexible, strong. 

G. Individual sand grains can readily be seen and felt. Moist soil somewhat 

friable. Color usually bright red or yellow..........................................Sandy Clay 

G. Sand not evident. Moist soil plastic. 

H. Color usually grey, sometimes containing iron concretions........Silty Clay
 

H. Color usually dark red, often mottled with grey or yellow....................Clay
 

3.2 
3.3 Textural Classification of Soils

Soil texture refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay 

particles that make up the soil mass. The chart below shows the 

percentage of these soil fractions in the basic textural grades. 

Three classifications—sandy loam, loam, and silt loam—are common 

surface soils; they also may occur as subsoils. The rest of the 

classifications are subsoils. 

100 0 

Clay

(Percent) 

Silt 

(Percent) 

90 10 

80 20 

07 03

06 04

05 05

04 06

30 70

20 80

01 09

100 90 80 70 0102030405060

CLAY LOAM SILTY 

CLAY LOAM 

SILTY 

CLAY 

CLAY 

SANDY 

LOAM 

SANDY CLAY 

LOAM 

SANDY LOAM 

LOAM SILT LOAM 

SAND SAND 

LOAMY 

SILT 

Sand (Percent) 

3.3 

0 
3.4 Seeds per Pound and Bushel*

3.4a 

Species Cleaned Seeds/lb. 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/lb. 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Fruits/

Cones/Bushel 

Ash, Black 6,100–9,500 8,100 Ash, Green 11,000–24,600 17,260 Ash, White 5,540–18,185 13,120 68,690–225,490 162,680 Basswood 3,000-8,000 5,000 

Beech 1,300-2,300 1,600 Birch, Black 443,000-933,000 646,000 Birch, Paper 610,000-4,120,000 1,380,000 

Birch, River 287,000–548,000 375,000 Birch, Yellow 278,000-907,000 450,000 Black Cherry 2,800-6,040 4,240 

Black Chokeberry 276,000 Black Locust 24,000 Black Walnut 11-100 40 484-4,400 1,760 

Blackgum 1,850-4,000 3,380 

Boxelder 8,200–20,400 13,400 Buckeye, Ohio 48–67 58 

Butternut 15–40 30 

Buttonbush 118,000-160,000 134,000 

Chokecherry 3,010–8,400 4,790 Cottonwood 200,000–590,000 350,000 Dogwood, Flowering 3,300-6,200 4,500 

Dogwood, Gray 10,200–15,300 13,000 Dogwood, Red Osier 13,800-26,700 18,500 Dogwood, Roughleaf 8,600-21,000 15,200 
3.4 Seeds per Pound and Bushel*

3.4b 

Species Cleaned Seeds/lb. 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/lb. 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Fruits/

Cones/Bushel 

Dogwood, Silky 10,200-14,000 12,200 

Elderberry 175,000-324,000 232,000 Elm, American 48,000–109,000 70,900 Elm, Slippery 35,000–54,000 41,000 Fir, Balsam 30,000-94,500 59,600 1,000-2,000

Hackberry 3,500-5,400 4,300 

Hawthorn Species 4,700-20,600 49 

Hawthorn, Washington 29,800 Hazelnut, American 197–736 491 

Hemlock, Eastern 124,000-360,000 187,000 Hickory, Bitternut 125–185 156 5,000–7,400 6,240 

Hickory, Shagbark 80–150 100 2,720–5,100 3,400 

Hickory, Shellbark 25–35 30 Holly, American 22,000-36,350 28,430 

Holly, Mountain 31,000-66,000 45,000 Holly, Winterberry 40,000-129,000 92,000 Maple, Red 12,700-38,200 22,860 Maple, Silver 900–3,200 1,780 Maple, Sugar 3,200–9,100 7,030 

Ninebark 454,000-1,660,000 1,045,000 

Oak, Black 125–400 245 6,500–18,000 11,000 Oak, Bur 40–135 75 1,300–4,380 2,960 Oak, Northern Pin 205–290 245 

Oak, Northern Red 75–256 125 4,720-16,100 7,870 
3.4 Seeds per Pound and Bushel*

3.4c 

Species Cleaned Seeds/lb. 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/lb. 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Fruits/

Cones/Bushel 

Oak, Swamp White 90–175 120 

Oak, White 70-210 120 5,070-15,200 8,700 

Pawpaw 1,300 Pecan 151-174 162 

Pine, Jack 71,000-250,000 131,000 2,500-3,200

Pine, Loblolly 12,300-26,400 18,200 400-1,100 Pine, Pitch 42,500-82,200 61,700 

Pine, Red 30,000-71,000 52,000 1,300-1,800

Pine, Shortleaf 32,100-72,900 46,300 1,400-2,500Pine, White 17,500-53,000 26,500 500-700 Plum, American 550-1,500 870 

Redbud 14,000–25,000 18,000 Redcedar, Eastern 37,000-55,000 43,600 Serviceberry 50,000-81,000 80,000 42 

Spicebush 4,500-4,600Spruce, Black 335,000-510,000 404,000 7,000-16,000Spruce, Red 100,000-289,000 139,000 5,000 

Spruce, White 135,000-401,000 226,000 6,500-8,000Sweetgum 65,000-98,400 82,000 0.8 

Sycamore 133,500-267,400 193,270 Tamarack 210,000-420,000 318,000 Viburnum, Arrowwood 14,600-32,600 20,400 

Viburnum, Highbush Cranberry 9,400-17,800 13,600 
3.4 Seeds per Pound and Bushel*

Species Cleaned Seeds/lb. 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/lb. 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Average 

Cleaned

Seeds/bushel 

Fruits/

Cones/Bushel 

Viburnum, Nannyberry 2,200-12,400 5,900 WillowWitch-hazel 8,700-10,900Yellow-poplar 6,880-14,050 10,630 * Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook No. 450 

3.4d 

Stand Improvement 

4.1 Basal Area Spacing Guide 

4.2 Central Hardwood Spacing Table 

4.1 Basal Area Spacing Guide 

DBH 

Inches 

Square feet of Basal Area per Acre 

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 140 

Square spacing to the nearest foot 

2 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 

4 10 9 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 

5 12 11 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 

6 15 13 12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 

7 17 15 14 13 12 11 11 10 10 9 

8 19 17 16 15 14 13 12 12 11 10 

9 22 20 18 17 16 15 14 13 13 11 

10 24 22 20 18 17 16 15 15 14 13 

12 29 26 24 21 21 19 18 18 17 16 

14 34 31 28 26 24 23 22 21 20 18 

16 39 35 32 29 28 26 25 24 24 21 

18 44 39 36 33 31 29 28 26 25 23 

20 49 44 40 37 34 32 31 29 28 26 

Factor 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.55 1.45 1.4 1.3 

Factor multiplied times DBH (inches) gives approximate square spacing in feet. 

4.1 
4.2 Central Hardwood Spacing Table 

Diameter 

(inches) 

Maximum Stocking 

“A” Level 

Spacing (feet) 

Minimum Stocking 

“B” Level 

Spacing (feet) 

2 4.6 6.5 

3 6.1 8.2 

4 7.6 9.9 

5 9.0 11.6 

6 10.3 13.4 

7 11.6 15.0 

8 13.0 17.0 

9 14.3 18.7 

10 15.6 20.4 

11 17.0 22.1 

12 18.1 23.8 

13 19.4 25.6 

14 20.8 27.2 

15 21.9 29.0 

Rule of Thumb:

 For “A” Level stocking spacing, multiply diameter by 1.5

 For “B” Level stocking spacing, multiply diameter by 2.0 

4.2 
Silvicultural Information 

5.1 Synecological Requirements of Forest Species
 

5.2 Central States
 

5.3 Average Number of Years to Reach Breast Height by 

5.4 Upland Central Hardwood Stocking Guide
 

5.5 Upland Central Hardwood Stocking Guide (cont.)
 

5.6 Hardwood Stocking Chart in the Northeast
 

5.7 Mixedwood Stocking Chart in the Northeast
 

5.8 Upland Hardwoods (oak-hickory) Stocking Charts
 

5.9 Jack Pine and Northern Hardwoods Stocking Charts
 

5.10 Red Pine and White Birch Stocking Charts
 

5.11 White Pine Stocking Chart
 

5.12 Elm–Ash–Cottonwood Stocking Guide
 

5.13 to 5.25—Site Index / Maximum Mean Annual Increment Curves
 

5.13 ASPEN
 

5.14 BALSAM FIR
 

5.15 BLACK SPRUCE
 

5.16 JACK PINE
 

5.17 NORTHERN WHITE-CEDAR
 

5.18 PAPER BIRCH
 

5.19 RED PINE
 

5.20 SUGAR MAPLE
 

5.21 TAMARACK
 

5.22 UPLAND OAKS
 

5.23 WHITE PINE
 

5.24 WHITE SPRUCE
 

5.25 YELLOW-POPLAR
 

5.26 Recommended Rings per Inch for Second Growth Timber

 for Quality Products
 
5.27 to 5.41—Site Index Curves
 

5.27 AMERICAN BEECH
 

5.28 AMERICAN ELM
 

5.29 BLACK CHERRY
 

5.30 COTTONWOOD
 

5.31 EASTERN HEMLOCK
 

5.32 GREEN ASH
 

5.33 LOBLOLLY PINE
 

5.34 RED MAPLE
 

5.35 RED SPRUCE
 

5.36 SILVER MAPLE
 

5.37 SWEETGUM
 

5.38 VIRGINIA PINE
 

5.39 WHITE ASH
 

5.40 WHITE OAKS
 

5.41 YELLOW BIRCH
 

Stocking guide direction in the U.S. Forest Service manuals, handbooks, 

and forest plans will be followed on National Forests. 
5.1 Synecological Requirements of Forest Species 

Moisture (M), nutrients (N), heat (H), and light (L) 

in relative values from 1 (least) to 5 (greatest). 

From Minnesota Forestry Notes No. 84 by Bakuzis and Hansen 

Species 

Relative Values 

Species 

Relative Values 

M N H L M N H L 

TREES 

Balsam fir 3.6 2.0 1.4 2.0 White oak 2.1 5.0 4.6 1.3 

White spruce 2.8 2.2 1.5 2.3 Northern pin oak 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.0 

Black spruce 4.5 1.2 1.0 3.5 Bur oak 1.5 3.2 3.8 3.5 

Jack pine 1.0 1.1 1.9 5.0 Northern red oak 1.5 4.2 3.5 2.8 

Red pine 1.1 1.6 2.1 4.5 Basswood 2.5 5.0 3.8 1.5 

White pine 1.7 2.1 2.0 2.8 American elm 3.5 5.0 3.9 2.0 

N. white cedar 4.2 2.3 1.3 1.2 Rock elm 2.9 5.0 5.0 2.6 

Tamarack 5.0 1.0 1.0 5.0 Quaking aspen 2.0 2.3 2.1 4.2 

E. redcedar 1.0 2.6 5.0 3.0 

Boxelder 3.3 5.0 5.0 3.4 SHRUBS 

Red maple 1.9 2.3 2.6 3.4 Mountain maple 3.5 2.4 1.7 1.4 

Sugar maple 3.2 5.0 3.5 1.0 Serviceberry 2.8 2.3 1.9 4.7 

Silver maple 3.2 5.0 5.0 4.5 Bog birch 5.0 1.1 1.0 5.0 

Yellow birch 3.7 5.0 2.4 1.7 

Red-Osier 

dogwood 3.9 2.1 1.7 3.4 

Paper birch 2.9 2.1 1.7 5.0 Am. hazelnut 1.3 2.5 3.1 5.0 

B. hickory 2.7 5.0 4.8 1.0 Bk. hazelnut 1.9 1.4 1.9 3.1 

Hackberry 3.3 5.0 5.0 1.6 Crataegus spp. 2.6 5.0 4.4 4.5 

Black ash 3.9 3.5 2.6 1.8 Pin cherry 1.2 1.8 2.9 5.0 

Green ash 3.0 5.0 4.4 3.6 Sand cherry 1.2 1.8 1.5 5.0 

Black walnut 1.6 5.0 5.0 2.0 Chokecherry 1.1 3.4 3.1 3.6 

Ironwood 2.4 5.0 4.3 1.1 Sweetfern 1.0 1.0 1.8 5.0 

Balsam poplar 3.7 2.7 2.1 3.5 Ribes spp. 3.7 3.6 2.0 2.1 

Cottonwood 2.9 5.0 5.0 3.9 Green alder 1.6 1.3 1.2 3.9 

Bigtooth aspen 1.3 3.0 3.1 3.4 Speckled alder 4.6 1.6 1.0 3.6 

5.1 
 

 

 

 

 

 

5.2 Central States 

Species 

Major Forest Types 

Central 

Mixed 

Hardwoods 

Oak-Hickory 

Shortleaf 

Pine and 

S.P.-Oak 

Bottomland 

Hardwoods 

(Years to DBH after complete overhead release) 

White oak 3 4 4 – 

N. red oak 2 3 3 – 

Scarlet oak 2 3 3 – 

Pin oak – – – 2 

Black oak 2 3 3 – 

White & green 

ash 3 – – 1 

Elm 2 – – 1 

B. walnut 2 – – 2 

Beech 4 – – – 

Soft maple 2 – – 1 

Sugar maple 3 – – – 

Yellow-poplar 1 – – 1 

Cottonwood – – – 1 

Shortleaf pine – 5 4 – 

Total Age (years) 

Table:	 Average number of years required for oak sprouts 

to reach breast height. 

White Oak 1.8 years
 

Black Oak 2.0 years
 

Scarlet Oak 1.4 years
 

Chestnut Oak 1.6 years
 

5.2 
5.3 Average Number of Years to Reach Breast Height 

by Species and Site 

Lake States
 

Species Good Site Average 

Site 

Poor site and 

Suppressed Trees 

Aspen 1 1 2 

Ash 8 10 15 

Balsam poplar 1 1 2 

Balsam fir 10 10 15 

Basswood 2 3 4 

Birch, yellow 8 10 15 

Birch, paper 2 3 4 

Cedar, northern white 10 15 20 

Elm 4 6 8 

Maple, hard 8 10 15 

Maple, soft 2 3 4 

Oak 3 3 6 

Pine, Jack 5 6 8 

Pine, red (Norway) 6 8 10 

Pine, white 8 10 12 

Spruce, black 10 15 20 

Spruce, white 10 12 15 

Tamarack 5 7 10 

5.3 
5.4 Upland Central Hardwood Stocking Guide* 

140

130

120

110 0 

100

90
 

80
 

70
 

60
 

50
 

40
 

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

15 14 13 12 11

A 

10 

OVERST

AVERAGE TREE DIAMETER

9 

OCKED 

8 

7 

00 

11

FULLY STOCKED 

90 

1

0 

TN

B 

0 

PE

8

RCE

C 

UNDERSTO

0 

TOCKING

7

CKED 

6

S

50 

Trees per acre (Number) 

Relation of basal area, number of trees, and average tree diameter to 

stocking percent for upland central hardwoods. Tree-diameter range 

7-3 (page 5.5). The area between curves A and B indicates the range of 

stocking and . . . 

* Even-aged Silviculture for Upland Central Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook 355. 

5.4 

Basal Area per Acre (Square Feet) 
 

5.5 Upland Central Hardwood Stocking Guide* (cont.) 

110

100

90

80

70
 

60
 

50
 

40
 

30
 

20

7 

A 

6 

AVERAG

5 

E TREE DI

4 

OVERSTO

AMETER 

CKED 

FULLY ST

0 

3

110 

B 

OCKED 

10

90 

CEN

8

T

0 

UN

C DER

06

CKIN

7

G P

0 

ER

S OCKT ED 

50 

STO

40 

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15

Hundred trees per acre 

. . . trees can fully utilize the site. Curve C shows the lower limit of 

stocking necessary to reach the B level in 10 years on average sites. 

(Average tree diameter is the diameter of the tree of average basal area.) 

* Even-aged Silviculture for Upland Central Hardwoods Agriculture Handbook 355. Basal Area per Acre (Square Feet) 

5.5 
4

5.6 Hardwood Stocking Chart in the Northeast 

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 

16 14 12 10

8

7

6

5

C 

Mean Stand Diameter (inches) 

150

125

A 

Quality Line 

75

B 50

25 HARDWOOD 

450 750 1050

Trees Per Acre 

Figure 6.—Stocking chart for main crown canopy of even-aged hardwood stands 

(beech-red maple, beech-birch-maple) shows basal area and number of trees per 

acre and quadratic mean stand diameter. The A-line is fully stocked, the B-line is 

suggested residual stocking. The C-line is minimum stocking. The quality line is the 

density required to produce high quality stems of beech, sugar maple, yellow birch, 

and red maple. 

Source: Silvicultural Guide for Northern Hardwood Types in the Northeast (revised), 

N.E.F.E.S. Research Paper NE-603 

5.6 

100
5.7 Mixedwood Stocking Chart in the Northeast 

150

180

100

50

16 14

12

10

8 7 6 5 4

A 

B 

C 

Mean Stand Diameter (inches) 

MIXEDWOOD 

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 

230 460 690 920 1150

Trees Per Acre 

Figure 7.—Stocking chart for main crown canopy of mixedwood stands (25 to 65 

percent softwoods) shows basal area and number of trees per acre and quadratic 

mean stand diameter. The A-line is fully stocked, the B-line is suggested residual 

stocking, the C-line is minimum stocking. 

Source: Silvicultural Guide for Northern Hardwood Types in the Northeast (revised), 

N.E.F.E.S. Research Paper NE-603 

5.7 
AVERAGE STAND DIAMETER 

5.8 Upland Hardwoods (oak-hickory) Stocking Charts 

Upland hardwoods (oak-hickory) stocking charts. Use the upper chart for stands

with larger diameter trees and the lower chart for stands with small diameter trees. Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 130 A 15 

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

55

14 13 

12 

11 Overstocked 

10 

9 

8 

A

7 

Fully stocked 

B 

Understocked 

B 

50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400

Trees Per Acre 

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

35

A 7 

6 Overstocked 

5 

AVERAGE STAND D

4 

IAMETER 3 

A 

Fully stocked 

B 

Understocked 

B 

200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

Trees Per Acre 

Source: Wisconsin Woodlands: Estimating Stocking Conditions in Your Timber Stand by Jeff 

Martin. 

5.8 
5.9 Jack Pine and Northern Hardwoods Stocking Charts 

Jack pine stocking chart. 

180

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 160

140

120

100

80

60

40

A 12 Overstocked 11 

10 

9 

8 

AVERAGE STAND DIAMETER 7 

6 

5 

4 A 

Fully stocked 

B 

Understocked 

B 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

Trees Per Acre 

Northern hardwoods stocking chart (for even-aged stands). 

140

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

A 24 22 

20 

18 

16 

14 

12 

Overstocked 

B 10 

AVERAGE STAND DIAMETER 8 

Fully stocked 

6 A

Understocked 

B 

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Trees Per Acre 

Source: Wisconsin Woodlands: Estimating Stocking Conditions in Your Timber Stand by Jeff Martin. 

5.9 
A 11 

10 

Overstocked 9 AVERAGE STAND DIAMETER 8 

7 

B 6 

Fully stocked 5 

Understocked 

B 

5.10 Red Pine and White Birch Stocking Charts 

Red pine stocking chart. Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 230

210

190

170

150

130

110

90

70

50

A20 

18 

16 

14 Overstocked 12 

10 AVERA

9 GE ST

8 AND D

7 

IAMETER 

6 

5 A 

Fully stocked 

B 

Understocked B 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

Trees Per Acre 

White birch stocking chart. 

140

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

A 

100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600

Trees Per Acre 

Source: Wisconsin Woodlands: Estimating Stocking Conditions in Your Timber Stand by Jeff Martin. 

5.10 
5.11 White Pine Stocking Chart 

White pine stocking chart. 

240
 

220
 

200
 

180
 

160
 

140
 6 

7 

8 

16 

14 

1

cked rstoOve

ked rstocndeU

9 

5 

12 

0 

A 18 

B 

Fully stocked 

B 

AVERAGE STAND DIAMETER 

120
 A

100
 

80
 

60
 

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900

Trees Per Acre 

Source: Wisconsin Woodlands: Estimating Stocking Conditions in Your Timber Stand by Jeff Martin. 

Red and White Pine1
 

Site Index – 5-Year Intercept Method
 

1. Select a dominant or co-dominant tree. 

2. Measure the distance between the first and 

sixth whorl of branches above D.B.H. 

3. Read site index directly from chart. 

4. Stand site index should be based on 

measurements of at least 3 trees. 

Basal Area Per Acre (square feet)

Intercept 

(in feet) S.I. 

0 - 3.2 30 

3.3 - 4.4 40 

4.5 - 5.7 50 

5.8 - 7.3 60 

7.4 - 10.8 70 

10.9+ 80 

1

For use on pine less than 25 feet tall. For pine over 25 feet tall use standard (height 

over age) site index curves. 

5.11 
Basal Area Per Acre (square feet) 

5.12 Elm–Ash–Cottonwood Stocking Guide 

140 26 

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

100

A 

22 

18 

14 

AVERAGE

STAND

DIAMETER 

10 

Overstocked

B 6 

110 C Fully sto

100

cked 

90 

U

80 

nderst

70 OCKING PERCENT

ocked

60 

50 

ST

40 

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Trees Per Acre (number) 

Relation of basal area, number of trees, and average tree diameter to stocking 

percent of elm-ash-cottonwood (based on Putnam et al. 1960) from Manager’s 

Handbook for Elm-Ash-Cottonwood in the North Central States, GTR-NC-98. 

5.12 
5.13 ASPEN 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

100 80 

70 

80
 

60
 

60 50

40
 

40
 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

1.00 CORD 

100 

0.75 CORD 

80 

0.50 CORD 

60 0.25 CORD 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 2 years
 

2/ Rotation = 50 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Econ. Note No. 9 and Tech. Note No. 464. L.S.F.E.S.
 

5.13 
5.14 BALSAM FIR 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 

70 

80
 

60
 

60 50 

40
 

40
 

30 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

BREAST HEIGHT AGE - YEARS 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 1 

100 1.00 CORD 

80 0.75 CORD 

60 0.50 CORD 

40 0.25 CORD 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

BREAST HEIGHT AGE - YEARS 

1/ Rotation = 50 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Yield tables for important timber species in the Lake States, unpublished, and 

Tech. Note No. 463. L.S.F.E.S.
 

5.14 
5.15 BLACK SPRUCE 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 

60 

80 50 

40 60 

30 

40 

20 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

100 1.00 CORD 

0.75 CORD 80 

0.50 CORD 

60 

0.25 CORD 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 12 years
 

2/ Rotation = 100 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Yield table for important timber species in the Lake States, unpublished, and Tech. 

Note No. 483. L.S.F.E.S.
 

5.15 
5.16 JACK PINE 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 

70 

80
 

60
 

50
 60
 

40
 

40 30 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1
 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2
 

1.00 CORD 

100 

0.75 CORD 

80 

0.50 CORD 

60 

0.25 CORD 40
 

20
 

0
 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 6 years
 

2/ Rotation = 50 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Econ. Note No. 9 and Tech. Note No. 463. L.S.F.E.S.
 

5.16 
5.17 NORTHERN WHITE-CEDAR 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 

60 

80 

50 

60 40 

30 

40 

20 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

1.00 CORD 

0.75 CORD 

0.50 CORD 

0.25 CORD 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 12 years
 

2/ Rotation = 100 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Yield tables for important timber species in the Lake States, unpublished, and 

Tech. Note No. 472, L.S.F.E.S.
 

5.17 
5.18 PAPER BIRCH 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

80 

70 

80 

100 

60 

50 60 

40 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

1.00 CORD 

0.75 CORD 

0.50 CORD 

0.25 CORD 

0 20 40 60 80 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 2 years 

2/ Rotation = 60 years. Unmanaged stands. 

Source: L.S.F.E.S. Technical Note No. 541. 

5.18 
5.19 RED PINE 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 70 

100 60 

50 80 

40 

60 

40 

20 

0 

20 40 60 80 100 120 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1
 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2
 

600 BD. FT. 

100 

400 BD. FT. 

80 

200 BD. FT. 

60 

40 

20 

0 

20 40 60 80 100 120 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 8 years 

2/ Intensive management. Include sawtimber yields from intermediate cuttings. Residual 

basal area level = 90 sq. ft. Rotation = 115 years. Source: USDA Tech. Bull. No. 1272. 

5.19 
5.20 SUGAR MAPLE 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 80 

70 

80 

60 

50 60 

40 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 

BREAST HEIGHT AGE - YEARS 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 1 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

300 BD. FT. 

250 BD. FT. 

200 BD. FT. 

150 BD. FT. 

200 BD. FT. 

0 20 40 60 80 

BREAST HEIGHT AGE - YEARS 

1/ Intensive all-age management of northern hardwoods using sugar maple as site 

indicator.
 

Source: Yield tables for important timber species of the Lake States, unpublished, 

L.S.F.E.S.; and Bulletin 629, Univ. of Vermont Agric. Station.
 

5.20 
5.21 TAMARACK 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

100 

60 80 

50 

60 

40 

30 40 

20 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

100 

0.75 CORD 

80 

0.50 CORD 

60 

0.25 CORD 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 7 years
 

2/ Rotation = 100 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Yield tables for important timber species in the Lake States, unpublished, and 

Tech. Note No. 498. L.S.F.E.S. 

5.21 
5.22 UPLAND OAKS 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1
 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2
 

500 BD. FT. 

400 BD. FT. 

100 

300 BD. FT. 

80 200 BD. FT. 

100 BD. FT. 60 

40 

20 

0 

0 20 40 60 80 100 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

100 

80 

60 

50 

40 

30 

70 

80 

90 

60 

40 

20 

0 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 2 years
 

2/ Rotation = 100 years. Managed stands.
 

Source: Tech. Bull. No. 560, USDA, and Res. Note #125, S.E.F.E.S.
 

5.22 
5.23 WHITE PINE 

SITE INDEX CURVES 120
 

60
 

100
 

50
 

80
 

40
 

60
 

40 

20 

0
 

20 40 60 80 100 120
 

80 70 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1
 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2
 

600 BD. FT. 400 BD. FT. 

100 

200 BD. FT. 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

20 40 60 80 100 120 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 10 years 

2/ Managed stands. Intermediate yield estimate was based on the assumption that the 

increase would be proportional to that realized between managed and unmanaged red 

pine stands. Rotation = 115 years. 

Source: Yield tables for important timber species of the Lake States, unpublished, and 

Tech. Note 483. TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

5.23 
 

5.24 WHITE SPRUCE 

80

100

60

40

50

60

70

80

30

40

20

0

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

SITE INDEX CURVES 1 

0 20 40 60 80 100
 

BREAST HEIGHT AGE - YEARS 

1/ Source: Tech. Note No. 474. L.S.F.E.S. 

5.24 
5.25 YELLOW-POPLAR 

100 

120 

80 

60 

70 

80 

90 

100 

50 60 

40 

20 0 20 40 60 80 100

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 140 

120 750 BD. FT. 

500 BD. FT. 

250 BD. FT. 

1000 BD. FT. 

100 

80 

60 

20 

40 

TOTAL HEIGHT - FEET 

MAXIMUM MEAN ANNUAL INCREMENT CURVES 2 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1 

110 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

0 20 40 60 80 100
 

TOTAL AGE - YEARS 1
 

1/ Total age = Breast height age + 2 years
 

2/ Rotation = 50 years. Unmanaged stands.
 

Source: Technical Bulletin No. 356, Research Note No. 1x0, S.E.F.E.S.
 

5.25 
 

 

 

 

5.26 Recommended Rings per Inch for Second 

Growth Timber for Quality Products 

FPL No. 2170, December 1959 

Aspen 10 

Balsam 8 

Basswood 10 

Beech 8 

Black gum 10 

Black spruce 10 

Cottonwood 6 

Eastern red cedar 8 

Elm 8 

Hickory 8 

Jack pine 6 

Loblolly pine 6 

Northern white cedar 12 

Oak 

Bur 8 

Chestnut 8 

Post 10 

Swamp 8 

White 10 

Paper birch 6 

Pitch pine 10 

Red maple 8 

Red oak 8 

Red pine 8 

Shortleaf pine 6 

Silver maple 6 

Sugar maple 8 

Sweet gum 8 

Sycamore 8 

Tamarack 12 

Virginia pine 8 

Walnut 8 

White ash 8 

White pine 15 

White spruce 10 

Yellow birch 8 

Yellow-poplar 8 

5.26 
5.27 AMERICAN BEECH 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES, 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Constructed from Unpublished Data, N.E. Forest Exp. Station, Upper Darby, PA. 

5.27 
5.28 AMERICAN ELM 

TOTAL HEIGHT OF DOMINANTS AND CODOMINANTS (FEET) 

110

100

SITE INDEX CURVES 

80

90

70

80 60

60

70

50

50

SITE 

INDEX 

40

30

20

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Site index curves for American elm (Carmean et al.) (base age 50 years) from Manager’s 

Handbook for Elm-Ash-Cottonwood in the North Central States, GTR-NC-98. 

5.28 
5.29 BLACK CHERRY 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT TREES,
 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Prepared from a Thesis for Graduate Degree by S.E. Defler, N.Y. State College of 

Forestry, 1937. 

5.29 
5.30 COTTONWOOD 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

TOTAL HEIGHT OF DOMINANTS AND CODOMINANTS (FEET) 

130
 

120
 

110
 

100
 

90
 

80
 

70
 

60
 

50
 

110 120

130

100
 

90
 

80
 

70
 

60
 

SITE 

INDEX 

10 20 30 40 50
 

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Site index curves for eastern cottonwood (Carmean et al.) (base age 25 years) from 

Manager’s Handbook for Elm-Ash-Cottonwood in the North Central States, GTR-NC-98. 

5.30 
5.31 EASTERN HEMLOCK 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

TOTAL HEIGHT OF DOMINANTS (FEET) 

150

140 70

130

120 60

110

100 50
 

90
 

80
 40
 

70
 

SITE 

60 INDEX 

50
 

40
 

30
 

20
 

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 R2 SE Maximum difference 

H 2.1493 0.9979 -0.0175 1.4086 -0.0008 0.99 0.50 1.6 

SI 0.2172 1.1309 -0.0105 -1.9120 -0.1327 0.99 1.20 3.4 

Eastern hemlock (Frothingham 1915a) 

Based on average of ‘maximum’ height growth curves from stands in New York, Michigan, 

and Southern Appalachian Mountains. Number of plots and number of dominant trees 

not given. Total height and age, anamorphic, equation not given. Add 6 years to d.b.h. age 

to obtain total age. Vigorous uninjured free-growing dominants in even aged stands are 

particularly important for estimating site index of hemlock (BH=0.0). Source: Site Index 

Curves for Forest Tree Species in the Eastern United States. GTR NC–128 

U.S. Government Printing Office: 1989 657-204/00007 

5.31 
5.32 GREEN ASH 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

110

100

105

80

90

95

60

65

75

85

55

45

70

60

50

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

SITE 

INDEX 

100

90

80

70

35 40 45 50 55 60
 65
 

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Site index curves for green ash (Carmean et al.) (base age 50 years) from Manager’s 

Handbook for Elm-Ash-Cottonwood in the North Central States, GTR-NC-98. 

5.32 
5.33 LOBLOLLY PINE 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT TREES,
 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Volume, Yield and Stand Tables for Second-Growth Southern Pines, U.S. Dept. 

Agr. Misc. Publ. No. 50 (1929). 

5.33 
 

 

 

5.34 RED MAPLE 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES,
 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS IN NEW ENGLAND & N.Y.
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

TO C

ADD 

S. I.: 

Y

40-50 

ONVERT BRE

EARS ACCO

51-70 

AST-HEIGH

RDING TO 

71+ 

T AGE TO T

SITE INDEX 

OTAL: 

YEARS 5

 3

 4 

2 

3 (Seedlin

2 (Sprouts

gs)

) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Constructed from Data Reported by R.W. Foster, Forest Science, Vol. 5, No. 3, 

Sept., 1959. (For Trees of Seedling Origin Only) 

5.34 
 

 

5.35 RED SPRUCE 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES IN EVENAGED STANDS BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS IN NATURAL RANGE
 TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

TO CO

ADD Y

NVERT BRE

EARS ACCO

AST-HEIGHT

RDING TO SITE INDEX 

 AGE TO TOTAL: 

S. I.: 

YEARS

30 40 

: 15 13 

50 60 

11 9

70 For We

 7 stocked 

llstands 

70

60

50

40

30

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Meyer, W. H., USDA Tech. Bull. No. 142, Nov. 1929. (Revised to 50-Year Age from 

65 Years) 

5.35 
5.36 SILVER MAPLE 

SITE INDEX CURVES 

Silver Maple Site Index 120
 

100
 

TOTAL HEIGHT OF AVERAGE DOMINANT TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

AND CODOMINANT TREES (FEET) 

20

100

90

80

70

60

Source: Iowa Forestry Reference 

Handbook 40 60 80
 

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

110
 

100
 

100
 

90
 

90
 

SITE 

INDEX 80
 

60
 

40
 

20
 

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
 

80
 80
 

70 70
 

60 60
 

SITE 

INDEX 50
 

40
 

30
 

20
 

Site index curves 

for silver maple 

(Carmean et al.) 

(base age 50 years) 

from Manager’s 

Handbook for ElmAsh-Cottonwood in 

the North Central 

States, GTR-NC-98. 

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

5.36 
 

5.37 SWEETGUM 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES BY SITE 

INDEX CURVES OF 50 YEARS IN WEST VIRGINIA, IN STATES OF 

OHIO & MISSISSIPPI VALLEYS, AND SOUTHEASTERN STATES 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

TO C

ADD 

S. I.: 60-75 

ONVERT BR

YEARS ACC

75+ 

EAST-HEIG

ORDING TO

HT AGE TO T

 SITE INDEX 

OTAL: 

YEARS 3 

2 

2 (Seedlings)

1 (Sprouts) 110

100

90

80

70

60

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Broadfoot, W.M., & Krinard, R.M., Southern Forest Experiment Station. OCCAS. 

Paper No. 176, 1959. 

5.37 
5.38 VIRGINIA PINE 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT TREES
 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

90

80

70

60

50

40

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Chaiken, L. E., & Nelson, T.C., S.E. Forest Experiment Station. Research Notes 

#135, Nov. 1959. 

5.38 
5.39 WHITE ASH 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Constructed from Formula Developed by R.O. Curtis & B.W. Post, Bull. 629, Agr. 

Exp. Station University of Vermont & State Agriculture College, August 1962. 

5.39 
5.40 WHITE OAKS 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

110 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Doolittle, W.T., Soil Science, Vol. 22, No. 5, September to October 1958. Schur, 

G.L., USDA, Tech. Bull. No. 560 (1937). 

5.40 
5.41 YELLOW BIRCH 

HEIGHT IN FEET OF AVERAGE DOMINANT & CODOMINANT TREES 

BY SITE INDEX CURVES AT 50 YEARS
 

TOTAL HEIGHT (FEET) 

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

TOTAL AGE (YEARS) 

Source: Constructed from Formula Developed by R.O. Curtis & B.W. Post, Bull. 629 Agr. 

Exp. Station, University of Vermont & State Agr. College, August 1962. 

5.41 

Economic Information 

6.1 Compound Interest Table
 

6.2 Discount Factors (Single Payment Multiplier)
 

6.3 Table of Interest Rates Being Grown by Trees (6)
 

6.1a Compound Interest Table 

Years 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 

1 1.040 1.050 1.060 1.070 1.080 1.090 1.100 1.110 1.120 1.130 1.140 1.150 

2 1.082 1.103 1.124 1.145 1.166 1.188 1.210 1.232 1.254 1.277 1.300 1.323 

3 1.125 1.158 1.191 1.225 1.260 1.295 1.331 1.368 1.405 1.443 1.482 1.521 

4 1.170 1.216 1.262 1.311 1.360 1.412 1.464 1.518 1.574 1.630 1.689 1.749 

5 1.217 1.276 1.338 1.403 1.469 1.539 1.611 1.685 1.762 1.842 1.925 2.011 

6 1.265 1.340 1.419 1.501 1.587 1.677 1.772 1.870 1.974 2.082 2.195 2.313 

7 1.316 1.407 1.504 1.606 1.714 1.828 1.949 2.076 2.211 2.353 2.502 2.660 

8 1.369 1.477 1.594 1.718 1.851 1.993 2.144 2.305 2.476 2.658 2.853 3.059 

9 1.423 1.551 1.689 1.838 1.999 2.172 2.358 2.558 2.773 3.004 3.252 3.518 

10 1.480 1.629 1.791 1.967 2.159 2.367 2.594 2.839 3.106 3.395 3.707 4.046 

15 1.801 2.079 2.397 2.759 3.172 3.642 4.177 4.785 5.474 6.254 7.138 8.137 

20 2.191 2.653 3.207 3.870 4.661 5.604 6.728 8.062 9.646 11.523 13.743 16.367 

25 2.666 3.386 4.292 5.427 6.848 8.623 10.835 13.585 17.000 21.231 26.462 32.919 

30 3.243 4.322 5.743 7.612 10.063 13.268 17.449 22.892 29.960 39.116 50.950 66.212 

35 3.946 5.516 7.686 10.677 14.785 20.414 28.102 38.575 52.800 72.069 98.100 133.176 

40 4.801 7.040 10.286 14.974 21.725 31.409 45.259 65.001 93.051 132.782 188.884 267.864 

45 5.841 8.985 13.765 21.002 31.920 48.327 72.890 109.530 163.988 244.641 363.679 538.769 

6.1a 
6.1b Compound Interest Table cont. 

6.1b 

Yrs. 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 

50 7.1067 11.467 18.420 29.457 46.902 74.358 117.39 184.56 289.00 450.74 700.23 1083.66 55 8.6464 14.636 24.650 41.315 68.914 114.41 189.06 311.00 509.32 830.45 1348.24 2179.62 60 10.520 18.679 32.988 57.946 101.26 176.03 304.48 524.06 897.60 1530.05 2595.92 4384.00 65 12.799 23.840 44.145 81.273 148.78 270.85 490.37 883.07 1581.87 2819.02 4998.22 8817.79 70 15.572 30.426 59.076 113.99 218.61 416.73 789.75 1488.02 2787.80 5193.87 9623.64 17735.70 75 18.945 38.833 79.057 159.88 321.20 641.19 1271.90 2507.40 4913.06 9569.37 18529.50 35672.90 80 23.050 49.561 105.80 224.23 471.95 986.55 2048.40 4225.11 8658.48 17630.90 35677.00 71750.90 85 28.044 63.254 141.58 314.50 693.46 1517.93 3298.97 7119.56 15259.2 32483.9 68693.00 144317 90 34.119 80.730 189.46 441.10 1018.92 2335.53 5313.02 11996.9 26891.9 59849.5 132262.0 290272 95 41.511 103.03 253.55 618.67 1497.12 3593.50 8556.68 20215.4 47392.8 11026.9 254660.0 583841 

100 50.505 131.50 339.30 867.72 2199.76 5529.40 13780.60 34064.2 83522.3 203163.0 490326.0 1174310 

110 74.760 214.20 607.64 1706.93 4749.12 13089.3 35743.40 96722.5 259407. 689650.0 1817750. 4750750 

120 110.66 348.91 1088.19 3357.79 10253.0 30987.0 92709.10 274636. 805680. 2341060. 6738790. 19219400 130 163.81 568.34 1948.78 6605.28 22135.4 73357.5 240463.0 779807. 2502320 7946900. 24982200 77753400 140 242.48 925.77 3489.97 12993.6 47788.8 173664. 623700.0 2214200 7771830 26976300 92614500 314556000 

150 358.92 1507.98 6250.00 25560.3 103172. 411126. 1617720. 6287050 24138100 91572800 343343000 1272550000 

Agriculture Handbook 311 Compound Interest Tables for Long-term Planning in ForestryRobert Jay Marty and David J. Neebe, 1966 
6.2 Discount Factors (Single Payment Multiplier)* 

6.2 

Years 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 

1 .962 .952 .943 .935 .926 .917 .909 .901 .893 .885 .877 .870 

2 .925 .907 .890 .873 .857 .842 .826 .812 .797 .783 .769 .756 

3 .889 .864 .840 .816 .794 .772 .751 .731 .712 .693 .675 .658 

4 .855 .823 .792 .763 .735 .708 .683 .659 .636 .613 .592 .572 

5 .822 .784 .747 .713 .681 .650 .621 .593 .567 .543 .519 .497 

6 .790 .746 .705 .666 .630 .596 .564 .535 .507 .480 .456 .432 

7 .760 .711 .665 .623 .583 .547 .513 .482 .452 .425 .400 .376 

8 .731 .677 .627 .582 .540 .502 .467 .434 .404 .376 .351 .327 

9 .703 .645 .592 .544 .500 .460 .424 .391 .361 .333 .308 .285 

10 .676 .614 .558 .508 .463 .422 .386 .352 .322 .295 .270 .247 

15 .555 .481 .417 .363 .315 .275 .239 .209 .183 .160 .140 .123 

20 .456 .377 .311 .258 .215 .178 .149 .124 .104 .087 .073 .061 

25 .375 .295 .233 .184 .146 .116 .092 .074 .059 .047 .038 .030 

30 .308 .231 .174 .131 .099 .075 .057 .044 .033 .026 .020 .015 

35 .253 .181 .130 .094 .068 .049 .036 .026 .019 .014 .010 .008 

40 .208 .142 .097 .067 .046 .032 .022 .015 .011 .008 .005 .004 

USDA-Forest Service Research Paper NC-51. * 1971. 
6.3 Table of Interest Rates Being Grown by Trees (6)

6.3 

*DBH

Inside

Bark 

Number of Annual Rings per Last Radial Inch of Growth

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

8 77.5 30.7 19.1 13.6 10.8 9.0 7.7 6.7 5.8 5.1 4.5 4.0 

9 65.5 26.6 16.6 12.2 9.7 7.8 6.7 6.0 5.3 4.7 4.2 4.0 

10 56.1 23.3 14.7 10.7 8.3 6.9 6.0 5.3 4.5 4.0 3.6 3.4 

11 49.3 21.1 13.4 9.8 7.6 6.3 5.6 4.7 4.1 3.8 3.4 3.1 

12 44.0 18.9 12.1 8.9 6.9 5.5 4.9 4.3 3.7 3.4 3.0 2.9 

13 39.7 17.5 11.2 8.2 6.5 5.2 4.6 3.9 3.5 3.1 2.8 2.7 

14 36.2 15.9 10.3 7.6 5.9 4.9 4.2 3.5 3.2 2.9 2.6 2.4 

15 33.1 14.8 9.5 6.9 5.5 4.5 3.9 3.3 2.9 2.7 2.4 2.2 

16 30.6 13.8 8.8 6.5 5.2 4.2 3.7 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.1 

17 28.4 12.9 8.4 6.1 4.8 4.0 3.5 3.1 2.7 2.4 2.1 2.0 

18 26.6 12.0 7.9 5.8 4.6 3.8 3.3 2.9 2.5 2.3 2.0 1.9 

19 24.9 11.4 7.4 5.5 4.3 3.5 3.1 2.7 2.3 2.1 1.9 1.8 

20 23.5 10.8 7.1 5.2 4.1 3.4 3.0 2.6 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.7 

21 22.1 10.2 6.8 4.9 3.9 3.2 2.9 2.4 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.6 

22 21.0 9.8 6.4 4.7 3.7 3.1 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.5 

*2 Thicknesses of bark diameter must be deducted from increment boring. Assumed that rategrowth is proportioned to the annual increase in basal area and that last inch of radial growthrepresents fair sample & current increment rate. 
Converting Factors 

7.1 Table of Measure
 

7.2 Conversion Factors for Rapid Approximation
 

7.3 Scale Conversions for Vertical Aerial Photographs
 

7.4 Converting Between Cubic and MBF
 

7.5 English-Metric Conversion Factors
 

 

7.1 Table of Measure 

A.	 Lineal Measures 

51⁄2 yards = 161⁄2 feet = 1 rod 

320 rods = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet = 1 mile 

B.	 Square Measures 

144 sq. inches = 1 sq. foot 

9 sq. feet = 1 sq. yard 

301⁄4 sq. yards = 2721⁄4 sq. feet = 1 sq. rod 

160 sq. rods = 4,840 sq. yards = 43,560 sq. feet = 1 acre 

1 acre = 4,840 sq. yards 

1 acre = 43,560 sq. feet 

1 acre = 10 sq. chains 

1 sq. mile = 640 acres 

C.	 Surveyor’s Measure 

7.92 inches = 1 link
 

25 links = 1 rod
 

4 rods = 1 chain
 

100 links = 1 chain
 

66 feet = 1 chain
 

1 sq. link = 62.7 sq. inches = .436 sq. feet
 

10 sq. chains = 1 acre
 

1 sq. mile = 1 section
 

6 sq. miles = 36 sections = 1 township
 

D.	 Cubic Measure 

1,728 cubic inches = 1 cubic foot 

27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard 

1 bushel = 2,150.3 cubic inches 

1 gallon = 231 cubic inches 

1 cord = 128 cubic feet 

E.	 Weight Measures (28) 

1 gram = 1,000 milligrams = 15.432 grains 

1 kilogram = 1,000 grams = 2.2 pounds 

1 metric ton = 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 pounds 

= 1.1023 net tons 

7.1 
 

 

 

7.2 Conversion Factors for Rapid Approximation 

Useful Conversion Factors for Rapid (1) Approximation 

Feet × .00019 = miles 

Links × .66 = feet 

Feet × 1.5 = links 

Square inches × .007 

Square feet × .111 

Acres × 4,840 

Square yards × .0002066 

Width in chains × 8 

Cubic feet × .04 

Cubic inches × .00058 

U.S. gallons × .13368 

U.S. gallons × 231 

Cubic feet × 7.48 

Cubic inches × .004329 

Cylindrical feet × 5.878 

Cylindrical inches × .0034 

= square feet 

= square yards 

= square yards 

= acres 

= acres per mile 

= cubic yards (Approximate) 

= cubic feet 

= cubic feet 

= cubic inches 

= U.S. gallons 

= U.S. gallons 

= U.S. gallons 

= U.S. gallons

 Example: Given 7 acres of land. To find number of

 square yards, multiply 7 by 4,840 

Answer: 33,880 square yards 

7.2 
 

7.3 Scale Conversions for Vertical Aerial Photographs1 

Representative1 

Fraction (scale) 

Feet per 

inch 

Chains 

per inch 

Inches 

per mile 

Acres per 

square 

inch 

Square 

miles per 

square inch 

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 

1: 7,920 660.00 10.00 8.00 10.00 0.0156 

1: 8,000 666.67 10.10 7.92 10.20 0.0159 

1: 8,400 700.00 10.61 7.54 11.25 0.0176 

1: 9,000 750.00 11.36 7.04 12.91 0.0202 

1: 9,600 800.00 12.12 6.60 14.69 0.0230 

1:10,000 833.33 12.63 6.34 15.94 0.0249 

1:10,800 900.00 13.64 5.87 18.60 0.0291 

1:12,000 1,000.00 15.15 5.28 22.96 0.0359 

1:13,200 1,100.00 16.67 4.80 27.78 0.0434 

1:14,400 1,200.00 18.18 4.40 33.06 0.0517 

1:15,000 1,250.00 18.94 4.22 35.87 0.0560 

1:15,600 1,300.00 19.70 4.06 38.80 0.0606 

1:15,840 1,320.00 20.00 4.00 40.00 0.0625 

1:16,000 1,333.33 20.20 3.96 40.81 0.0638 

1:16,800 1,400.00 21.21 3.77 45.00 0.0703 

1:18,000 1,500.00 22.73 3.52 51.65 0.0807 

1:19,200 1,600.00 24.24 3.30 58.77 0.0918 

1:20,000 1,666.67 25.25 3.17 63.77 0.0996 

1:20,400 1,700.00 25.76 3.11 66.34 0.1037 

1:21,120 1,760.00 26.67 3.00 71.11 0.1111 

1:21,600 1,800.00 27.27 2.93 74.38 0.1162 

1:22,800 1,900.00 28.79 2.78 82.87 0.1295 

1:24,000 2,000.00 30.30 2.64 91.83 0.1435 

1:25,000 2,083.33 31.57 2.53 99.64 0.1557 

1:31,680 2,640.00 40.00 2.00 160.00 0.2500 

Method of RFD RFD 63,360 (RFD)2 Acres/sq.in.

calculation 12 792 RFD 6,272,640 640

1

 Conversions for scales not shown can be made from the relationships listed at the bottom of 

each column. Using the scale of 1:7,920 as an example (col. 1, line 1), the number of feet per inch 

is computed by dividing the representative fraction denominator (RFD) by 12 (no. of inches per 

foot). Thus, 7,920 ÷ 12 = 660 feet per inch (col. 2). By dividing the RFD by 792 (inches per chain), 

the number of chains per inch is derived (col.3). Other calculations can be made similarly. Under 

column 4, the figure 63,360 represents the number of inches in one mile; in column 5, the figure 

6,272,640 is the number of square inches in one acre; and in column 6, the number 640 is acres 

per square mile. 

Station Paper 112 - S.E.F.E.S. 

7.3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.4 Converting Between Cubic and MBF

 1. Standard Conversion Factors 

The following factors will be used to convert between units for 

T.M. Reports (cut & sold, etc.). 

Int. 1⁄4" Rule: .60 MBF per Ccf (Cunit)
 

Scribner Rule: .54 MBF per Ccf
 

Pulpwood: .633 MBF per Ccf
 

Pulpwood: 1.266 Cords per Ccf
 

MBF to Ccf (or Cords) 

Sawtimber:

 Ccf = MBF (LS-Int) Ccf = MBF (LS-Scribner)

 .6 .54
 

Pulpwood:

 Ccf = MBF or Ccf = (.79) (Cord)
 

.633
 

Ccf (or Cords) to MBF 

Sawtimber:

 MBF (LS-Int) = (.6) (Ccf) MBF (LS-Scribner) = (.54) (Ccf)
 

Pulpwood:

 MBF = (.633) (Ccf) or Cords = Ccf

 .79

 2. Conversion Formula 

LRF = MBF(LS) × O.R. ; MBF(LS) = Ccf × LRF ; Ccf = MBF(LS) × O.R.

 Ccf O.R. LRF 

Where: 

MBF = Thousand Board Feet
 

Ccf = Cunit = 100 cubic feet
 

LS = Log Scale
 

O.R. = Overrun
 

LRF = Lumber Recovery Factor
 

7.4 
METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS 

26

7.5 English-Metric Conversion Factors

MULTIPLY BY OR DIVIDE BY TO OBTAIN 

Acres 0.405 Acres 2.471 Hectares Centimeters 0.394 Centimeters 2.540 Inches Chains 20.12 Chains .050 Meters Feet 0.305 Feet 3.281 Meters Feet 2 / acre 0.230 Feet 2 / acre 4.356 Meters2 /hectares Feet 3 .0283 Feet 3 35.311 Meters3 Gallons 3.785 Gallons .264 Liters Hectares 2.471 Hectares 0.405 Acres Inches 2.540 Inches 0.394 CentimetersInches3 .0164 Inches3 61.013 Liters Kilometers .621 Kilometers 1.609 Miles Liters 61.013 Liters .0164 Inches3 Liters .264 Liters 3.785 Gallons Meters .199 Meters 5.03 Rods Meters .050 Meters 20.12 Chains Meters 3.281 Meters 0.305 Feet Meters2 /hectare 4.356 Meters2 /hectares 0.230 Feet 2 / acre Meters3 35.311 Meters3 .0283 Feet3 Miles 1.609 Miles .621 Kilometers Number/acre 2.471 Number/acre 0.405 Number/hectareNumber/hectare 0.405 Number/hectare 2.471 Number/acreRods 5.03 Rods .199 Meters 

7.5 

Miscellaneous 

8.1 Sugar Maple Tap Hole Computation Sheet 

Point Sample Method 

8.2 Firewood 

Inside Back Cover:

 Discrimination Clause 

______________________

8.1 Sugar Maple Tap Hole Computation Sheet Point Sample Method 

(10-factor) 

DBH TOTAL 

10O 18 37 55 73 92 110 128 146 165 183 201 220 238 256 275 

12O 13 25 38 51 64 76 89 102 114 127 140 152 165 178 191 

14O 9 19 28 38 47 56 66 75 85 94 103 113 122 132 141 

16O 14 29 43 58 72 86 101 115 130 144 158 173 187 202 216 

18O 11 23 34 46 57 68 80 91 103 114 125 137 148 160 171 

20O 14 28 41 55 69 83 97 110 124 138 152 166 179 193 207 

22O 11 23 34 46 57 68 80 91 103 114 125 137 148 160 171 

24O 10 19 29 38 48 58 67 77 86 96 106 115 125 134 144 

26O 11 22 32 43 54 65 76 86 97 108 119 130 140 151 162 

TOTAL 

For number of tap holes per acre – total last numbers in each diameter 

class – then divide this total by number of point samples taken.
 

(Total) ____________
 

______________________ = _________________ tap holes per acre
 

(point samples) 

(Tap holes per acre) ___________ × (acres) __________ = total for 

woodland 

8.1 
 

 

 

 

8.2 Firewood 

I. Approximate BTU content:

 1 pound of wood = 6,000-7,200 BTU

 1 pound of coal = 12,000 BTU 

1 pound of fuel oil = 18,000 BTU 

1 cord of dry wood = 1 ton of coal = 200 gallons of fuel oil 

II. Measurements: 

A. 1 standard cord (4 ́ × 4 ́ × 8 ́) = 128 cubic feet 

The solid content depends on size and straightness – 

Large straight sticks – 1 cord = 90 cubic feet 

Small crooked sticks – 1 cord = 70 cubic feet 

Average – 1 cord = 80 cubic feet 

B. For weight by species see the table on Section 2.10 

C. For Cord Table, see Section 2.1 

D. Formula for cubic feet per tree (works best for pine): 

Divide DBH by 2, subtract 1, square remainder – 




 

D - 1 

2 



2 

Example: DBH = 10 




 

10 

2 - 1 



2 

= 16 cubic feet 

E. Computing cubic feet per tree, number of trees, or acres of trees 

(works best on small hardwoods) – 

Basal area (DBH + *) = cubic feet * Use 12 – site index 50 

15 – site index 60 

18 – site index 70 

20 – site index 80 

22 – site index 90 

Example: Average DBH – 8 ̋ 

Basal area – 25 sq. ft. 

Site index – 60 

25 (8+ 15) = 575 cubic feet 

575 / 80 = 7.19 cords 

8.2 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and 

activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, 

marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 

political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any 

public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 

large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 

(voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.