Once a sapling or sprout is first measured, it continues to be listed at each measurement date, even after it has died. This mainly helps in relocating saplings and sprouts for remeasurement. The first two letters of the genus and species names of the tree are used. Black birch and yellow birch were lumped together until old enough to distinguish with certainty. Defines stems as saplings or different types of sprouts.
Height is the vertical distance from the ground to the highest leaf-tip.
Stem length is length of the stem up to, but not including, current year growth. It is often different from the height, as stems are sometimes bent or originate above or below ground level. Stem length is recorded only for smaller stems. Stem diameter measured above basal swelling or 1cm from the ground, whichever is greater. Stem diameter at 1.33m.