Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-07
Timber Estimating
Proving Practicable

Orono, July 6.-That the State of
Maine still holds it's place as a pi-
oneer among the 4S states of the
Union is shown by the fact that it
is the first state whose extension
service has undertaken to teach
timber estimating to the woodlot
owners. In this phase of extension
work, as in many others OF the past
the Maine College of Agriculture has
, taken the lead.
A year ago the new work was be-
gun with M. E. Watson in charge
Other states frowned upon the idea
saying that the subject was too tech
nlcal for the farmer to learn quick
~. Results showed otherwise. For
ty-one demonstrations in 10 counties
nave oeen held in the last year and
were attended by SCI men-all own
ers of woodlots and interested in the
development of forestry as it per-
tanned to them. OF these, lis
bought cruising sticks that they
might be able to use the informa :
ton they received by estimating
their own timber.
Only recently Mr.. Watson receiv-
ed a letter from G. H. Collingwood
extension forester of Washington, in
which he asked how the work was
progressing and how successful ii
had been. In this communication he
quoted q forestry extension specialist
OF another state as saying that
timber estimating Is too technical
to be handled in this way. Timber
estimating Is an art and not some
thing that can be picked up by
watching somebody else do it a few
minutes"
In answering this Mr.. Watson said
that "the timber estimating project
is meeting with exceptional favor
The principles of estimating stand
ing timber as they apply to the aver
age farm woodlot are easily learned
and do not require long experience
in the woods, neither are the prin-
ciples too technical for the average
woodlot owner to execute"
He further quoted the following
extract from the weekly report of
C. A. Day, county agent in Ken
nebec county: Three timber esti-
mating demonstrations were held
this week, one in the woodlot of P.
Springer. Readfield, and one with E.
L
methods and the value of volume
tables and log rules were explained
previous to the demonstration. One
method was explained in detail. La
ter the party was divided into three
groups and each group estimated
the same quarter acre by the meth
cd explained. Three estimates which
were arrived at Independently were
within $50 board feet of each other.
In Readfield two groups of five men
each estimated the stand on quar-
ter acre and came within 105 board
feet of each other. This same quar-
ter acre scaled 625S board feet.
"At the close of the meeting at
Readfield. F. L. Shattuck, an old mill
man, remarked that the method
demonstrated was the most nearly
fool proof of any for estimating
standing timber that he had ever
seen.
"The next day at the Pomona
Grange at Fayette, F. A. Walker,
county Grange deputy, who was
present at the demonstration at
Readfield, spoke very highly OF the
work done on timber estimating aQd
urged Changers to attend all extern
sion demonstrations. whenever ana
wherever they could"
Thus Maine having blazed. the
trail for this new line of work sew
eral other, states are already plan
ming to start it, queries being sent
to both Washington and to Orono
on the procedure followed in Maine.