The times., 1899-06-20
TO INVESTIGATE THE
FORESTS OF EUROPE
A. K. Mlodziansky Commits
stoned by the Government.
Inventor Of the Method Of Measur-
ing the Forest Crop.
He VIII Report on the syivicuIture
of Foreign Countries-His Vail
unble Discovery.

As the result OF the wonderful success
of the new method of measuring the for
est crop and of ascertaining the rate Of
growth of trees, which has been discov-
cred by A. K Mlodziansky. and adopted by
the United States Government, the in
ventor has been commissioned by Secre-
tary Wilson to make tour of investigation
through the forests of France, Russia,
Germany, and Switzerland, and TO report
on the methods employed by those Gov
ernments and 10 make biological studies
OF the timber growth and the work in
foreign forestry stations, and to apply the
new American method in deciding the Law
of growth.
Mr.. Mlodziansi1y will also act as the
special agent of the Bureau of Statistics
and his new and accurate methods are ex-
pected to furnish decisive figures on the
relative competitive ability of each of the
above countries in relation to their lum-
ber trade with this country. He will also
be special agent for the Department OF
Labor in securing desired figures On for
estry conditions abroad, and will report
on the forestry educational institutions
Mr. Mlodziansky has for the past five
years occupied a position as assistant
chief and expert of the Division OF For
estry OF the Department of Agriculture,
and his discovery has placed America two
centuries ahead of the foreign nations in
relation to forestry matters. 1t has taken
Europe almost two hundred years to work
out its syiyiculture, and even now the
work is only in an experimental stage.
While the data of two centuries has given
European forestry a rank in the science
of sylviculture. yet even now no method
has been obtained whereby immediate and
rapid, yet accurate, figures on forest
growth may be had.
The value of the new discovery may be
learned in a measure when il is known
that as il has taken Europe two centuries
to work out a crude slow system. it would
take the United States. with ten times
as many species of economic value as are
found in Europe. even longer space OF
time Previous TO the discovery the slow
historical process OF investigation was re-
quired and followed. and the bulky data
of two hundred years of timber growth
was depended upon for knowledge An
other advantage of the new method is
that while two years were formerly re-
quirsd for an analysis which would de-
termine the measurement Of forest, a
more accurate and complete measurement
can now. it is said, be obtained in two
days thus saving over six hundred days
of labor and expense for the Government.
The discovery has attracted much atten-
tion. owing to the waning of forest supplies
and the need of accurate measurements OF
the forest crop. The new system enables
the Division of Forestry to obtain def
mite knowledge OF the amount of product
h. tod srfN# -,
present and future values of a forest
growth can be accurately obtained within
forty-eight hours, and sale or purchase
can be made on close figures. even to al
lowing interest on the increase or decrease
OF growth, as the case may be.
A special bulletin on the results Of the
new system will be issued by the Depart
nent Of Agriculture within a few weeks
and the rapidity with which large meas
urements can be eo-ordinated and sum-
married will be shown. The method de-
termines at once the height and contents
Of single tree or Of stand or forest OF
tlees. and also gives accurately the ages
OF the trees and their growth under va
rious conditions, with an analysis OF the
tree or trees.
The height is measured by means OF
mirror hyposometer. OF with right-angled
isosceles triangle. The diameter is then
secured. breast high, with calipers and
tape for accuracy. The volume of the tree
or growth is then secured by an elaborate
method which includes even the cubic con-
tents of the branches. Mr.. Mlodziansky
has also discovered that a tree will grow
a certain height during each year OF its
life, and after passing certain period tie
growth is very slow until the tree dies or
is cut down. The age of the tree is a fac.or
in averaging the value of forest growths
The sample areas are then considered az
cording to soil. height, diameter. and spe-
cies by an elaborate scientific system, and
through mathematical tables. The age OF
the trees are simply but accurately ascer-
tanned. and the future growth is known by
dividing Ihe height, volume, OF diameter
by the number of years il has taken 10
grow The annual accretion can be esti-
mated so closely that careful analysis later
has proven the success of the discovery.
Even the heartwood, volume OF sap, and
volume of bark are carefully allowed for
In estimates of forest or stands of trees,
and small forests have been felled from the
new system and found accurate when
brought to the miller. The method has
also proven the fluctuations in the present
cubic cord Of wood and the standard log
rules.
Mr.. Mlodziansky is a Russian and a
forestry expert of renown, having grad
uated from several schools of forestry and
sylyiculture. He leaves for Europe with
in two weeks. and his reports are expecte1
10 furnish valuable and novel data.
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