Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 382 - MEASUREMENT OF WOOD AND DECLARATION OF QUANTITY › Section 001-382-6 - SYSTEMS OF WOOD MEASUREMENT

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
There are eleven authorized systems of wood measurement: Butt
				  measure, count, butt scale, stick cord scale, log scale, linear scale, cubic
				  foot measure, chip volume scale, thrown cord scale, and weight scale. Included
				  in the Appendix at page A-2 is a table summarizing the different
				  systems.
A.
Butt measure
1. General of description. Butt measure is
				the lineal measurement of the butt-end diameter of a severed stem. In contrast
				to cubic measure and butt scale, the volume of the stem is not relevant to the
				measurement.
2. Authorized use.
(a) State standard. Butt measure is the state
				standard system for the measurement of tree length wood and semi-tree length
				and chunkwood.
(b) Log length wood.
				Where agreed upon, the parties may also use butt measure in the case of log
				length wood and polewood.
(c)
				Prohibited use. Where net scale is the basis for payment, the use of butt
				measure is prohibited.
3. Measurement procedure for gross scale.
(a) Butt measure requires:
(i) Determination of the diameter of the butt
				end of the stem or piece, expressed in inches or in diameter class,
				and
(ii) Computation of the
				measurement unit using either the diameter count method or the cumulative sum
				method.
(b) Measurement
				of the butt diameter.
(i) The measurement of
				the butt diameter shall be accomplished by measuring the diameter of the butt
				end (large end) of the stem or piece. The diameter measurement shall be made:
AA. The short way through the geometric
				center of the butt end;
BB. From
				the outside surface of the bark to the opposite outside surface of the
				bark;
CC. Disregarding crevices and
				cracks;
DD. Perpendicular to the
				vertical axis of the tree.
(ii) "Crevices and cracks" means any
				indentations in the stem regardless of how they are labeled or how they were
				caused. "Crevices and cracks" are distinguished from rounded depressions.
				Directions for distinguishing between "crevices and cracks" and "rounded
				depressions" under various circumstances are provided in the appendix, pages
				A-8 through A-13.
(iii) The
				"geometric center of the stem" is the point where a slice of the severed end
				would balance atop a marking pencil.
(iv) Round off the diameter measurements to
				the nearest inch. When the measurement falls exactly on the .50 (1/2) inch
				mark, round down.
(c)
				Computation of units. Butt diameter units shall be computed using one of the
				following methods:
(i) Diameter count. Using
				this method, the quantity is totaled by counting the number of stems for each
				diameter class. The total is then represented in the numerical count for each
				diameter class.
(ii) Cumulative
				sum. Using this method, the quantity is totaled by adding together the inch
				measurements of all diameters measured without regard to the diameter class.
				The total is then represented in stem units, where one stem unit equals 100
				inches. Under this method, four 5-inch diameter stems have the same value as
				one 20-inch stem.
4. Net scale - discounting. In all wood
				transactions in which butt measure is used, taking deductions from gross scale
				is prohibited.
5. Marking. When
				butt measure is used, all wood shall be marked as follows:
(a) Mark the measured diameter or diameter
				class of each piece on the sawn surface, and
(b) Mark culled wood in an easily visible and
				distinct manner.
6.
				Culled Wood. Any stem or piece that is culled shall be handled as provided for
				in Chapter 381.
7. Declaration of
				quantity. Where butt measure is used, the standard unit or measurement depends
				on whether the diameter count or the cumulative sum method was used.
(a) Stems. Where the diameter count method is
				used to total the measured inches, the quantity is expressed in stems by
				diameter inch class. Payment or price per stem by diameter class may be
				furnished in a stem rate table. For example, there might be one stem rate table
				in one inch class intervals for unlimbed spruce and fir, and another table for
				limbed spruce and fir.
(b) Stem
				units. Where the cumulative sum method is used to total the measured inches,
				the quantity is expressed in stem units, where 100 inches equals one stem
				unit.
8. Tally.
				Measurement tally sheet requirements for butt measure are set forth in Chapter
				383.