A COLLECTION OF LOG RULES

U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT
FPL

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY
MADISON, WIS.
 CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Symbology 3

A graphic comparison of log rules 4

Section I. Log Rules of United States and 9

Canada

Section II. Some Volume Formulae, Lumber 41

Measures, and Foreign Log Rules

Tables showing the board foot volume of 16- 50

foot logs according to various log rules

Bibliography 56
 A COLLECTION OF LOG RULES

By FRANK FREESE, Statistician

Forest Products Laboratory

Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

INTRODUCTION
A log rule may be defined as a table or formula names. In addition, there are numerous local
showing the estimated net yield for logs of a given variations in the application of any given rule.
diameter and length. Ordinarily the yield is ex- Basically, there are three methods of develop-
pressed in terms of board feet of finished lumber, ing a new log rule. The most obvious is to record
though a few rules give the cubic volume of the the volume of lumber produced from straight,
log or some fraction of it. Built into each log rule defect-free logs of given diameters and lengths
are allowances for losses due to such things as and accumulate such data until all sizes of logs
slabs, saw kerf, edgings, and shrinkage. have been covered. These “mill scale” or “mill
At first glance, it would seem to be a relative- tally” rules have the virtue of requiring no as-
ly simple matter to devise such a rule and having sumptions and of being perfectly adapted to all the
done so that should be the end of the problem. But conditions prevailing when the data were obtained.
it would seem so only to those who are unfamiliar Their disadvantage, aside from the amount of
with the great variations in the dimensions of lum- record keeping required, is that they may have
ber which may be produced from a log, with varia- been produced in such a restricted set of condi-
tions in the equipment used in producing this lum- tions that the values are not applicable anywhere
ber and the skills of various operators, and finally, else.
with the variations in the logs. All of these have an The second method is to prescribe all of the
effect on the portion of the total log volume that pertinent conditions, e.g., allowance for saw kerf
ends up as usable lumber and the portion that be- and shrinkage, thickness and minimum width and
comes milling residue. length of boards, taper assumptions, etc., and then
Historically the lumber industry has consisted to draw diagrams in circles of various sizes, rep-
of a number of independent marketing areas or resenting the sawing pattern on the small end of
even of separate companies. Since no industrial a log. These “diagram rules,” of which the
organization or government agency had control Scribner is an example, will be good or bad, de-
over the measurement of logs, each district or pending on how well the sawmilling situation fits
even individual buyers could devise a rule to fit the assumptions used in producing the diagrams.
a particular set of operating conditions. The re- The third basic procedure is to start with the
sult is that in the United States and Canada there formula for some assumed geometric solid and
are over 95 recognized rules bearing about 185 then make adjustments to allow for losses in saw

Maintained at Madison, Wis., in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin.

1
kerf, slabs, edgings, and so forth. These are re- course of answering inquiries about the various
ferred to as “formula rules” and as is the case rules. Most of the information was obtained from
for any type of rule, their applicability will de- over 200 references listed in the Appendix, with
pend on how well the facts fit all of the assump- the bulk of it attributable to the writings of H. C.
tions. Belyea, Austin Cary, H. H. Chapman, H.S. Graves,
The development of a rule may involve more H.E. McKenzie, and J. M. Robinson. Although log
than one of these procedures. Thus, the step-like rules are no longer as big an issue as they once
progression of values in a mill-tally or diagram were, they are an important element in the history
rule may be smoothed out by fitting a regression of forestry and the lumbering industry and it
equation. Or the allowance to be used for slabs seemed desirable to bring together under one
and edgings in a formula rule may be estimated cover, all of the material that had been accumu-
from mill-tally data. lated.
Finally, there are the “combination” rules such The existing data on log rules is scattered,
as the Doyle-Scribner which uses values from the incomplete, and often contradictory, hence, there
Doyle Rule for small logs and from the Scribner are undoubtedly numerous errors and omissions
Rule for large logs. The aim, of course, is to take in this work. The author would greatly appreciate
advantage of either the best or the worst features receiving corrections or additions from readers.
of the different rules. Particularly needed are complete tables of values
This publication lists and describes all of the for the various mill-scale and diagram rules.
log rules that the author has encountered in the

2
 SYMBOLOGY

Unless otherwise indicated,

The diameter in inches, inside bark,

at the small end of the log.
The diameter in inches, inside bark,
at the middle of the log.
The length of the log in feet.
Volume in board feet.
Volume in cubic feet.

3
 SECTION I

LOG RULES OF UNITED STATES AND CANADA

In this section the log rules used in United end. The volume of any log then would be,
States and Canada are listed and described in
alphabetic order. For a number of rules, refer- “Adirondack Standards”
ence is made to the formula given by McKenzie.
The three general types of formula which H. E. The volume of the Adirondack Standard (ignor-
McKenzie used to approximate the values of many ing taper) is 25.6 cubic feet or roughly one-third
rules are discussed in detail under the” McKenzie of a cord. It was usually regarded as equalling
Rule” (page 26) and it is suggested that the 200 board feet though Defebaugh says that
reader go over this section before examining the the Hudson River Boom Association allowed 186
other rules. board feet per standard.
The second section starting on page 41 describes The Adirondack Standard was also called the
some of the lumber measures that are sometimes Adirondack Market , Dimick Standard , Glens Falls
confused with log rules, some general log volume Standard , and Nineteen-Inch Standard . Cary ( 44 )
formulae, and a few of the log rules used outside referred to it as the New York Standard but there
of North America. were two other standard rules (Twenty-Two-Inch
Standard and Twenty-Four-Inch Standard) that
carried this name.
Adirondack Market --See Adirondack Standard, The Adirondack Standard was one of a number of
“standard” rules. In 1863, Maxfield Sheppard pub-
lished his “Tables for Sawlogs” ( 179 ) in which the
Adirondack Standard (and other volumes of logs of various dimensions were shown
rules based on “Standards”) in terms of “standard” logs 12 feet long with
small-end diameters of 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22
In a number of early rules, the volume of a inches plus one for a standard 13 feet long and
given log or group of loge was expressed in terms 19 inches in diameter. In Canada, Crown Timber
of the number of “standard” logs of equivalent Regulation lf, 1866, applicable to “Upper” and
cubic volume. Thus, if the standard was defined “Lower” Canada assessed dues on the basis of a
to be a log d inches in diameter and feet in standard sawlog 13-1/2 feet long and 20 inches in
length, then for a given log D inches in diameter least diameter ( 162 ). Roy ( 169 ) states that among
and L feet in length the volume in number of the units of measurement used in Quebec between
standards would be, 1865 and 1890 was a “standard” log 17 inches in
diameter and 16 feet long which was later con-
sidered the equivalent of 200 board feet.
The Saranac Standard , used along the Saranac
River of northern New York, was based on a log
One of the better known and more persistent of of 22 inches in diameter and 12 feet long, which
these rules was the Adirondack Standard which is was equivalent to 250 board feet. It was also called
generally attributed to Norman Fox who lumbered the Twenty-Two-Inch Standard or the New York
in the Sacandaga and upper Hudson watershed of Twenty-Two-Inch Standard and was apparently the
northern New York from 1814 to 1821. same as the Canadian Twenty-Two-Inch Standard .
The Adirondack Standard was defined as a log The Quebec Standard was a log 20 inches in
13 feet long and 19 inches in diameter at the small diameter and 12 feet long and five standards were

Underlined numbers in parentheses refer to literature cited at the end of this report.

9
assumed to be equivalent to 1,000 board feet. This Rule but it is often called the Alberta Rule because
rule is ascribed to Norman Fox (author of the it was made the official rule of that province in 1957
Adirondack Standard) who moved to Canada some- (by Order-in-Council 263/57).
time after 1821. It should be noted that the term As in all versions of the International Rule, the
“Quebec Standard” was also used to describe a basic formula is for 4-foot sections.
quantity of lumber (see Section II).
Another “standard” rule used in Canada was the
Canadian Twenty-One-Inch Standard based on a
log 21 inches in diameter and 12 feet long. The formulae for lengths over 4 feet are derived
The Twenty-Four-Inch Standard used in parts of by assuming 1/2 inch of taper every 4 feet. Thus,
Canada, New York, and New England was a log 24 for a 16-foot log the formula becomes
inches in diameter and 12 feet long--equivalent
to about 300 board feet. Graves and Ziegler ( 88 )
report that logs were sometimes scaled by the
Doyle Rule and the total number of board feet It should be noted that the tables for this rule
divided by 300 to determine the number of stand- issued by the Alberta Department of Lands and
ards. The Twenty-Four-Inch Standard is also Forests show the volumes to the nearest board
called the New York Twenty-Four-Inch Standard . foot rather than to the nearest 5 feet as is the
The New Hampshire Rule , which is discussed case with the International 1/8-Inch and 1/4-Inch
in greater detail later, is based on a rather un- Rules.
usual standard--l6 inches in diameter and 1 foot Robinson ( 162 ) states that at one time the Inter-
long. This is taken to equal 1 cubic foot (though national 1/4-Inch Rule may also have been called
it is actually about 1.396 cubic feet) which is the Alberta Rule.
called a “Blodgett Foot.” References--113, 162.
The term “standard” has also been applied as
a lumber measure as for example in the Gothen-
Alberta Cubic Foot Log Rule
burg Standard, Quebec Standard, and Petrograd
(St. Petersburg) Standard. These are discussed
Robinson ( 162 ) states that, according to a pro-
briefly in Section II.
vincial regulation in 1962, when timber is scaled
References--13, 16, 27, 43, 44, 47, 69, 71, 80,
in cubic feet the Alberta Cubic Foot Log Rule shall
86, 88, 114, 162, 169, 179.
be used. This is based on Smalian’s Formula

Ake Rule

This rule was used locally in Clearfield County,

Pa. It is identical to the Seven-Tenths Rule used
in southwest Georgia. where: D 1 and D2 are the diameters (in inches)

at the ends of the log,

Reference--162.
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the Ake Rule is:
Apgar Rule --See Finch and Apgar Rule.

Arkansas Rule --See Doyle Rule,

Rules that are similar to or the same as the
Ake Rule are the Clearfield County Rule and the
Clearfield Rule . Ashe Rule
References--16, 47, 86, 134.
The results of a mill scale study of loblolly pine
made by W. W. Ashe in 1915. It is not known
Alberta Rule whether these tables were ever used in practical
log scaling.
This is actually the International 5/16-Inch Log Reference--8.

10
Ballon Rule

A modified version of the Scribner Rule used

around 1888 by M.E. Ballon and Son of Becket,
Mass. It was used mainly on small hardwoods. The rule is attributed to H.R.A. Baughman of
Chapman ( 47 ) refers to a Ballou Rule, but this was Indianapolis, Ind., and is said to have originated
probably a misprint. around 1905.
References--47, 86, 88, 164. In a sawmill operator’s manual published by
Jackson Lumber Harvester, Inc. ( 6 ) there is a
table labeled “Rotary Log Scale” which is actually
Bangor Rule Baughman’s Rotary Saw Rule. Because of this the
rule has sometimes been called either the Rotary
This is a diagram rule which is said to give Rule or Jackson’s Rule .
values that are slightly higher and more consist- References--6, 47, 86, 134.
ent than the Maine Rule. Belyea ( 1 3 ) and also
Graves and Ziegler ( 88 ) state that the Maine and
Bangor are one and the same. Young ( 202 ) states Baxter Rule
that in the eastern part of the state the Maine
Rule is called the Bangor Rule, but that there is Although Belyea ( 16 ) states that this is a mill
also a distinct Bangor Rule which is seldom used. scale rule, other authorities claim that it is a
Daniels ( 6 5 ) gives the following formula for formula rule. It is said to make insufficient allow-
approximating the volume of 12-foot logs by the ance for slabs and an over-allowance for sawdust,
Bangor Rule: equivalent to a saw kerf of about 1/2 inch. Because
of this the rule should over-scale small logs and
underscale large ones. This is just the reverse of
the Doyle Rule which has a large allowance for
McKenzie ( 134 ) expressed the Bangor Rule slabs and allows too little for sawdust, thereby
underscaling small diameter logs and over-
scaling the large ones.
Actually, although the Baxter Rule gives values
The Bangor Rule is also called the Miller Rule that are lower than those given by most rules for
and the Penobscot Rule . logs over 18 inches in diameter, the values given
References--13, 47, 65, 88, 134, 202. for smaller logs are not far above those given by
the Scribner Rule or the Quebec Rule and are con-
siderably below those given by the Maine, New
Baughman’s Rule Brunswick, and International 1/4-Inch Rules.
Clark ( 53 ) has noted that the Baxter Rule gives
A diagram rule which assumes l-inch boards an allowance for taper in scaling logs 18 feet long
with a minimum width of 4 inches and with one and over--one of the few rules to do so.
board placed at the center of the log. The rule The formula given by McKenzie ( 134 ) for the
neglects taper, shrinkage, and normal crook, and Baxter Rule is,
includes fractional inches on the width of boards
rather than dropping them to the whole inch, It is
said to be too perfect, giving a higher volume than
can ordinarily be obtained from the log.
There are two forms of the rule; one for a saw
kerf of 1/8 inch which is called Baughman’s Band References--16, 47, 52, 53, 86, 134.
Saw Rule, and one for 1/4-inch saw kerf which is
called Baughman’s Rotary Saw Rule.
McKenzie ( 134 ) approximated these rules by Beaumont Rule --See Herring Rule.
the formulae:

Beeman Rule --See Doyle Rule.

11
 Big Sandy Cube Rule the results of mill scale studies on loblolly pine
in 1915 (see Ashe Rule). Though all of these could
The Big Sandy Cube Rule, which was used along be regarded as mill scale log rules, there is no
the Ohio River, is actually a “standard” rule. It evidence that any of them were ever used as such.
is based on the assumption that it requires a log References--8, 9, 24.
18 inches in diameter at the small end to produce
a timber 1 foot square and each foot of length
gives 1 cubic foot of volume. According to Graves Brereton Rule
and Ziegler ( 88 ) , the local phraseology is, “An 18-
inch log will cube once.” The formula for cubic This rule was devised by Bernard Brereton for
foot volume by this rule is: use in the Douglas-fir and redwood regions. It is
also used extensively in the export and import
trade. It is basically a cubic volume rule with
multiplication by 12 for conversion to board feet.
Thus,
This is sometimes converted to board feet by
multiplying by 12.
The Two-Thirds Cubic Foot Rule has exactly
the same formula and is sometimes called the
where: D a = The average of the two end diam-
Big Sandy Cube Rule, but in the Two-Thirds Rule
eters.
the diameter is measured at the middle of the
This is identical to the Constantine Rule ex-
log rather than at the small end.
cept for the use of average end diameter rather
Other names for this rule are Cube Rule , Cube
than the diameter at the small end of the log.
Rule of the Ohio River , Ohio River Rule , and Goble
For the benefit of shippers, the following con-
Rule .
version factors are given:
References--47, 86, 88.

Blodgett Rule --See New Hampshire Rule.

Boynton Rule
On the North Island of New Zealand volumes of
logs are sometimes determined by measuring the
This a local rule devised about 1899 by D.J.
mid-point diameter and using the Adams Table
Boynton of Springfield, Vt. It is said to have been
which has values identical to those of the Brereton
made up of values taken from the Scribner and
Rule.
Vermont Rules and checked by mill tallies.
References--27, 29, 33, 76, 132, 194.
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for approximating the
values of this rule is,
British Columbia Rule

Most mensuration textbooks state that this is a

diagram rule which was reduced to formula form
References--47, 86, 134. before being used very extensively. However,
Robinson ( 162 ) reproduced copies of official cor-
respondence which seems to indicate that the
Braniff Rule formula and diagrams appeared at the same time
and that the diagrams may have been used either
The results of mill scale studies of lumber to derive or verify the formula. Ker ( 113 ) states
sawed from yellow-poplar, yellow birch, and beech that the rule assumes a 3/8-inch saw kerf and the
were published by Braniff ( 24 ) in 1906. Similar production of l-inch-thick boards without turning
tables for Vermont hardwoods were produced by of the log. Board widths were in multiples of 2
Bailey and Heald ( 9 ) in 1914. Ashe ( 8 ) published inches with a minimum width of 4 inches (though

12
Chapman says that the minimum width was 3 average-end diameter or mid-point diameter in
inches). The formula defining this rule is, calculating cubic volume rather than the average-
end area as prescribed by Smalian’s Formula.
Dobie ( 72 ) refers to this as the British Columbia
Lumber Cubic Scale and notes that it has now been
replaced as an official rule by the British
Two simplified formulae given by Ker ( 113 ) pro-
Columbia Firmwood Cubic Scale described below.
vide very close approximations: References--72, 113, 145, 146, 162.

British Columbia Firmwood Cubic Scale

Starting in 1972, both the British Columbia Cubic

Scale and the British Columbia Board Foot Scale
The basic rule is used for logs up to 40 feet in have been superseded by the British Columbia
length. Logs 42 to 80 feet in length are scaled as Firmwood Cubic Scale, which is now the only log
two logs, each half the measured length. The scale in official use in the province.
small-end diameter of the second section is as- The Firmwood Cubic Scale, like the B.C. Cubic
sumed equal to D + 1 for logs 42 to 50 feet long, Scale, is based on Smalian’s Formula. It differs
D + 2 for logs 52 to 60 feet long, etc. (i.e. an in- from that rule in permitting scaling deductions
crease of 1 inch in small-end diameter for every only for pathological defects, charred wood, and
10 feet of length over 40. Logs over 80 feet are cat-face. The deduction for pathological defects
scaled in 40-foot sections plus remainder, with a includes wood that is not firm, e.g., wood that
taper allowance of 1 inch for every 10 feet.) falls away when scraped with the hook of a scale
The rule has been in use on the British Columbia stick. In addition, the permissible deductions are
coast since about 1895. In 1902 it became the offi- smaller under the Firmwood Scale. Deductions
cial rule in the province west of the Cascades and not permitted under the new rule are sweep, crook,
this was extended to the rest of the province (ex- shake, check, and split. According to Dobie ( 72 ),
cept the Peace River Block) in 1915. In 1972 it was another difference is that in Firmwood, logs are
replaced as the official rule by the British scaled to the nearest lower foot of length rather
Columbia Firmwood Cubic Scale ( 72 ). than to the lower even foot as was done in apply-
References--3, 13, 44, 47, 72, 86, 113, 132, 134, ing the B.C. Cubic Scale.
145, 146, 162. In measuring butt diameter of flared logs, flare
is discounted under the new rule and diameter is
estimated by taking the normal taper of the log
British Columbia Cubic Scale into account.
Reference--72.
In 1946, a statute made board foot or cubic foot
measurement optional, and for cubic volume
British Columbia Lumber Cubic Scale --
specified the use of the British Columbia Cubic
See British Columbia Cubic Scale
Scale which is based on Smalian’s Formula. The
formula for the British Columbia Cubic Scale is,
Brubaker Rule

Mentioned by Chapman ( 47 ). No further informa-

tion.

where: D 1 and D 2 are the diameters in inches at

Calcasieu Rule
the ends of the log.
This is, of course, identical to the Alberta Cubic This rule, once used in Louisiana, was originally
Foot Rule. published by Irvine and Irvine, 725 Ryan Street,
Robinson ( 162 ) indicates that earlier (1921) Lake Charles, La. It is a cubic volume formula
British Columbia statutes specified the use of multiplied by a constant for conversion to board

13
feet. Chicago). The values are given by the equation,

The rule gives absurdly low values for large This is identical to the Square of Two-Thirds
logs. Graves ( 87 ) uses the name Calcasieu Stand - Rule except that the latter rule specifies diameter
ard Log Rule . measurement at the mid-point of the log.
References--47, 87.

Champlain Rule
California Rule --See Spaulding Rule.
The Champlain Rule was devised by A. L.
Daniels ( 65 ) of Vermont in 1902. The formula is,
Canadian Twenty-One-Inch Standard --
Discussed under Adirondack Standard.

McKenzie ( 134 ) approximated the rule by the

Canadian Twenty-Two-Inch Standard -- formula,
Discussed under Adirondack Standard.

Carey Rule
Graves ( 86 ) says that Daniels devised two rules
This rule was used in Massachusetts and gives of thumb which give nearly the same result as the
values about the same as those of the Wilson Rule. Champlain Rule.
It is a mill scale rule for round-edged lumber,
1 inch thick. For 12-foot logs, Daniels ( 66 ) gave
the following values:

Daniels’ explanation of the development of the

rule is as follows:
For approximating the Carey Rule, McKenzie The cubic-foot volume of a perfect log (cylinder)
( 134 ) gave the following formula: with a top diameter inside bark of D would be,

Chapman ( 47 ) claims that this is a caliper rule If it is assumed that 1 cubic foot is equal to 12
(i.e., diameter is measured at the center of the board feet, the formula becomes,
log) but neither Daniels nor McKenzie indicated
whether their values were for diameters measured
at the middle or the end of the log.
References--47, 66, 86, 134.
which is the same as the Constantine Rule.
Now, if a 1/4-inch saw kerf and slash sawing
(i.e., without turning the log) is assumed, then the
Cedar Log Scale
loss in sawdust when sawing l-inch boards would
be one-fifth of the contents of the log. Therefore,
This rule was adopted and published by the
four-fifths’ of the volume is recovered and the
Aromatic Red Cedar Association and the National
formula becomes:
Cedar Chest Association (666 Lake Shore Drive,

14
 Clement’s Rule

This was devised in 1904 by C. J. Clement of

Portland, Oreg. In words the rule is, “multiply
Next it is assumed that the loss in slabs and
half the diameter by half the circumference, then
edgings is proportional to the surface of the log
subtract half the circumference. The remainder
which is in turn, proportional to the diameter and
will be the total amount of feet board measure,
length. To determine the relationship between log
in a 16-foot log.” ( 47 ). In formula form
surface and surface wastage, Daniels used evi-
dence provided by sawyers and scalers, checking
these data by diagrams. He concluded that the
surface waste on perfect logs is equivalent to a
1-inch board of width equal to the diameter of the As an approximation to this, John C. Sammi
log. Therefore, the deduction would be DL/12, ( 170 ) of the New York State College of Forestry
making the formula, proposed the following rule of thumb for 16-foot
logs:

The Sammi Rule itself, which was developed in-

dependently, also gives results that are fairly
The premises on which the Champlain Rule is close to those of the Clement’s Rule.
based have two primary deficiencies. First, the References--47, 54, 87, 170.
rule makes no allowance for normal crook, knots,
and other blemishes and the allowance for slabs
is too small. AS a result, the values given for Click’s Rule
short logs are too high. The second flaw is that
no allowance is made for taper, and on long logs A rule devised by A. G. Click of Elkin, N.C., in
this more than offsets the first deficiency arid re- 1909. Graves’ ( 8 7 ) expression of the rule is:
sults in values that are too low. “From the square of the diameter deduct 2-1/2
Chapman ( 47 ) reports that Daniels, realizing diameters and multiply the remainder by 1/2 the
that the allowance for slabs was too small, in- length of the log and cut off the right hand figure. ”
creased that allowance and produced what is In formula form,
known as the Universal or Daniels Universal Rule.
References--18, 47, 65, 66, 86, 134.

Chapin Rule
with the decimal portion dropped.
The formula which McKenzie ( 134 ) used to ap-
This is a mill scale rule developed about 1883
proximate Click’s Rule is,
which is said to be the most erratic of all rules.
Chapman ( 47 ) says that it was made up by select-
ing values from existing rules to suit the author.
References--47, 86, 88.
The rule is supposed to give the volume from
sawing 1-inch boards averaging 6 inches in width
Clarks International Rule --See International using a 1/4-inch saw kerf.
1/8-Inch Rule. References--l2, 47, 87, 134.

Clearfield Rule --See Ake Rule. Columbia River Rule --See Spaulding Rule.

Clearfield County Rule --See Ake Rule.

15
Columbia River Taper Rule Cuban One-Fifth Rule

Rapraeger ( 152 ) indicates that the Columbia In this rule, girth is measured at the mid-point
River Taper Rule was devised by E. I. Karr while of the log and a board foot-cubic foot ratio of
he was manager of the Columbia River Scaling and slightly over 6 is assumed.
Grading Bureau. It is said to be a modification of
the Spaulding Rule and differs from it in that long
logs are built up from 12- to 14-foot sections by
applying taper. It apparently is not extensively
used. Chapman ( 4 7 ) reports that in practice, frac-
References--l52,203. tional inches of fifth-girth are dropped as follows:

Connecticut River Rule --See Doyle Rule.

Constantine Rule

This rule merely takes the cubic volume of a

log D inches in diameter and L feet in length and The formula expressed in terms of the diameter
multiplies this by 12 for conversion to board feet.
(D m ) at the mid-point of the log is,

Graves ( 86 ) says that a “practical” log rule is The rule is used primarily in the imported
sometimes made from the Constantine Rule by hardwood trade.
deducting a third or fourth of the indicated volume Reference--47.
to allow for saw kerf and other waste.
Chapman ( 47 ) says that the rule is used to meas- Cube Rule --See Big Sandy Cube Rule.
ure the volume of veneer logs.
Contrary to the above, Brereton ( 27 ) says that it
is a system of measurement used on the New York Cumberland River Rule
market for square-hewed foreign woods, chiefly
mahogany and cedar. “From first class hewed This is a cubic foot rule which was used for
timber there is deducted 2 inches of width from hardwood logs in the Mississippi Valley and
one face and 1 inch of width from the other face tributaries and to some extent in other areas
at right angles to it. This deduction being made (e.g. Massachusetts and Michigan). The rule gives
to straighten the log and remove axe marks. The a generous over-run to the buyer. This was con-
face measurements are then used to compute the sidered justified by the fact that in scaling river-
cubic contents of the log. If the log is defective, driven logs most of the defects were hidden in the
the contents are reduced by one half, ” water and loggers were even known to spike the
References--27, 47, 86, 134. logs to make sure the defects would be under
water.
The Cumberland River Rule, like the Square of
Cock Rule --See Square of Three-Fourths Rule. Two-Thirds Rule, deducts one-third of the diam-
eter and squares the remainder. It differs from
that rule in that one-fifth of the squared stick
Cooley Rule --See Square of Three-Fourths Rule. volume is deducted for saw kerf. Logs are usually
scaled at the small end but long logs may some-
times be scaled at the middle.
Crooked River Rule -- See Square of Three-
Fourths Rule

16
 For cubic volume the formula would be Derby Rule

The formula used by McKenzie ( 134 ) to describe

this rule is,
For board-foot volumes, McKenzie ( 134 ) gave
the formula,

The rule was once used in Massachusetts but

there is some confusion as to its origin. Chapman
The Evansville Rule and Third and Fifth Rule ( 47 ) described it as “an obsolete rule based on a
are other names that have been used for this rule. cubic foot formula.” Belyea ( 16 ), on the other hand,
References--47, 86, 134, 166. called it a diagram rule. McKenzie ( 134 ) noted that
the original values were slightly erratic which
would be expected of a diagram rule.
Daniels Rule --See Universal Rule. The other names by which this rule is known,
Holden Rule , Robison Rule , and Holden and
Robinson Rule suggest that it was probably used
Daniels Universal Rule --See Universal Rule. by a company of that name.
References--16, 47, 86, 134.

Davant Rule --See discussion of Davant Extension

under the Herring Rule, Dimicks Standard --See Adirondack Standard.

Delaware Middle Diameter Rule Dovicio’s Rule

As the name indicates, this is another one of the George Thomson of Iowa State University re-
few log rules which specifies measurement at the ports that a log scale table with this name is used
middle of the log rather than at the small end. in southeast Iowa by a sawmill operator named
The most common form of the rule is for 12-foot Dovicio. The values are identical to those of the
logs. Doyle-Scribner Rule.

Doyle Rule

Other lengths are calculated on a proportional This is one of the most widely used and roundly
basis, so the general formula would be cursed log rules in existence. It is, or has been,
that statute rule in Arkansas (replaced by Scribner
in 1901), British Columbia (1884-1895), Florida,
Louisiana (replaced by Scribner-Doyle in 1914),
and Ontario (until 1952). It is not so widely used
The rule was frequently used in Maryland and where timber is large or where Federally owned
Delaware. It is sometimes used as a rule of thumb timber is involved, but in all other areas there is
for sweetgum and loblolly pine logs and very often, probably more sawlog volume measured by Doyle
small-end diameter is used in place of the intended than by all other rules combined. Its primary
mid-point diameter. characteristic and the main reason for its popu-
Because of its use in Maryland the rule is some- larity, at least with buyers, is that it gives a very
times known as the Eastern Shore Rule . large over-run on small logs.
References--60, 195. The formula for the Doyle Rule is usually
written,

17
 The formula used by McKenzie ( 134 ) in his anal- Reckoner. Then in 1876 Fisher published “Scrib-
ysis of the rule is, ner’s Lumber and Log Book” which was nearly
identical to the original Scribner publication even
to the extent of listing Scribner as the author, But,
in place of the Scribner Rule there was a table of
Diameter should be measured inside bark at the values identical to the Doyle Rule which had been
small end of the log, but there are numerous local out of print for over 20 years. Because of this pub-
modifications. Some scalers measure at the mid- lication, the Doyle Rule was often referred to as
dle of the log, some include one bark, some both the New Scribner Rule or, more simply, the New
barks, and some measure inside bark “plus a Rule . In 1879 when the province of Ontario adopted
thumb.” Occasionally sweep is disregarded and a a rule for the measurement of logs taken from
fairly common practice is to give logs under 7 Crown lands and for log purchases on private
inches in diameter a scale equal to their length. lands the enabling act read, “to follow the table
Most of these variants seem to be rough attempts values of the new rule as published in Scribner’s
to compensate for the notorious underscaling of Lumber and Log Book.” Thus, the Doyle Rule has
small logs. also been known as the Ontario Rule though it has
The primary weakness of the Doyle Rule is that since been replaced by another rule of that name.
This new publication of the Doyle Rule had some
the allowance for slabs and edgings (4 inches) is
far too large for small logs and too small for large minor differences from the original rule. How-
logs. Most studies have shown that the allowance ever, one not so minor difference was that in place
for surface wastage is proportional to diameter of small-end diameter inside bark, the average of
and length, rather than a constant. The second the two end diameters was to be used with an
fault of the rule is that it allows only about 4.5 per- allowance for bark of 1/10 to 1/12 the circum-
cent of the log volume for sawdust and shrinkage ference (an impossibly large allowance). There is
whereas most rules make an allowance of any- little evidence that this procedure ever was widely
where from 10 to 30 percent. Finally, the rule used in practice but there are infrequent refer-
makes no allowance for log taper, a deficiency that ences to the Mid-Doyle Rule .
it has in common with most other rules. Other rules that are similar to, or the same as,
Harold C. Belyea ( 15 , 16 , ) has published some in- the Doyle are: Arkansas Rule , Beeman Rule ,
teresting studies of the history of the Doyle and Moore Rule , Moore and Beeman Rule , Connecticut
the Scribner Rules. The second edition of “The River Rule , St. Croix Rule , Thurber Rule , and
Improved Pocket Reckoner for Timber, Plant, Vannoy Rule . Because of its publication in Scrib-
Boards, Saw Logs, Wages, Board, and Interest” ner’s Lumber and Log book the Doyle Rule has
by Edward Doyle was published in 1837 in even been called the Scribner Rule!
Rochester, New York. In this publication are tabu- Duff ( 76 ) reports that in the Ohakune District of
lated the board foot contents of logs as given by New Zealand, logs were scaled according to the
the Doyle Rule. Values are shown for logs 10 to Moore or Ohakune Table which was based on the
25 feet in length and for small-end diameters from Doyle Rule.
12 to 36 inches. The first edition of Doyle’s pocket References--13, 15, 16, 17, 39, 44, 47, 48, 50,
reckoner was published in 1825. Although it very 55, 61, 73, 76, 86, 88, 102, 124, 132, 134, 136,
likely contained that same table, this cannot be 140, 162.
verified as there are no known copies of the
original.
After the Scribner Rule was introduced in 1846, Doyle-Baxter Rule
it largely supplanted the less reliable Doyle. How-
ever, as Belyea has shown, a rather odd turn of Doyle underscales small logs and Baxter under-
events resurrected that “hoary old sinner of a log scales large ones; put them both together and they
rule.” Some time around 1872 to 1875, J. M. spell profit! In this combination rule the values
Scribner sold the copyrights and rights of royalty for logs up through 20 inches in diameter are those
for his original work to the publisher George W. of the Doyle Rule and Baxter values are used for
Fisher. Prior to this Fisher had also acquired the all logs larger than this. Belyea ( 16 ) reports that
copyright and stereotype plates of Doyle’s Ready the rule once had considerable use in

18
Pennsylvania. It was widely used on the Allegheny waters of
References--16, 47. Pennsylvania.
The rule is based on 1-1/8-inch boards with a
Doyle-Scribner Rule few 1-1/2-inch and 2-inch pieces and allows for
a saw kerf of 7/16 inch. It is said to be a very
This is another combination rule, using Doyle consistent rule but due to the large saw kerf it
values for logs up through 28 inches in diameter underscales Scribner by 15 to 20 percent.
and Scribner values for larger logs. At one time Two other spellings given for the name are
it was the official scale of the National Hardwood Dusenbury and Duesenberry.
Lumber Association of St. Louis and was known References--47, 86, 134.
as the Universal Standard Log Scale ( 5 ). The justi-
fication often given for this rule is that the large
over-run compensated for losses in defective Eastern Shore Rule --See Delaware Middle
timber. Diameter Rule.
References--5, 44, 47, 86, 178.

Evansville Rule --See Cumberland River Rule.

Drew Rule

This rule was devised in 1896 by Fred Drew of Excelsior Rule --See Finch and Apgar Rule.
Port Gamble, Wash, (Rapraeger ( 152 ) says Port
Angeles). It was constructed from diagrams
checked against mill tallies and the values are Fabian’s Rule --See Maine Rule.
said to have been reduced to allow for hidden de-
fects. The rule was designed for logs 12 to 60
inches in diameter and 20 to 48 feet in length with Fairbanks Rule --See Partridge Rule.
taper ignored.
The Drew Rule did not fit any of McKenzie’s
( 134 ) three standard types. His formula for ap- Favorite Rule --See Lumberman’s Favorite Rule.
proximating the values is,

Fifth-Girth Method

This is a cubic volume formula with measure-

For 12-foot logs, A. L. Daniels’ ( 6 5 ) formula ment made at the middle of the log rather than the
for approximating the “Drew of Puget Sound Rule” end.
is,

No mention is made of an allowance for bark,

In 1898, the Drew Rule was designated as the implying that measurement must be made inside
statute rule for the state of Washington but ap- bark or on peeled logs.
parently was seldom used there.
Duff ( 76 ) reports that a table based on the Fifth-
It is sometimes known as the Puget Sound Rule .
Girth formula was used in New Zealand at one
References--16, 47, 65, 74, 86, 134, 149, 152.
time.
References--47, 76, 86.
Dusenberry Rule Finch Rule --See Finch and Apgar Rule.

This is a mill scale rule made up originally for

white pine by a Mr. May in 1835 and adopted by the
Dusenberry-Wheeler Company of Portville, N.Y.

19
Finch and Apgar Rule Glens Falls Standard --See Adirondack Standard.

There is disagreement as to whether this rule

is based on mill scale studies or diagrams. In Goble Rule --See Big Sandy Cube Rule.
either case, the rule is based on a 5/16-inch saw
kerf, gives low values, and is quite erratic. It
was published in 1887 in the Excelsior Lumber and Hallock and Lewis B. O. F. Rule
Log Book and Rapid Reckoner ( 2 ).
The formula given by McKenzie ( 134 ) is, Attempts to produce a diagram log rule have,
in the past, required a number of simplifying as-
sumptions. For example, it is usually specified
that only 1-inch lumber will be produced, that live
sawing will be used, that the pith will either be
The rule is also referred to as the Finch Rule ,
centered in a board or on a saw cut, and that frac-
Apgar Rule , and Excelsior Rule .
tional board widths will be accepted or will be cut
References--2, 47, 86, 134.
back to a whole inch or to even inches. One or, at
most, two saw kerfs will be considered and log
taper will be ignored except that the application of
Forty-Five Rule
the rule may be limited to short sections. Also,
the diagrams have usually been drawn only for
This rule was devised around 1870 and was used
each whole inch and the resulting yields are then
in New York State. It is based on an inaccurate
assumed to represent the average of all yields for
rule-of-thumb formula. Graves ( 86 ) describes the
a 1-inch class.
rule as follows: “For a 24-inch log multiply the
Recently, however, Hallock and Lewis ( 93 , 94 ,)
square of the diameter by the length of the log and
have discarded the tools of the draftsmen and done
the result by 45, then point off three places. For
their diagraming with an electronic computer.
every variation of 2 inches in diameter from the
Their aim was to study the placing of the first
standard 24-inch log, add or subtract one from the
saw cut so as to maximize the yield from a log of
number 45 in the formula according as the diam-
a given diameter-- i.e., to pick the best opening
eter is larger or smaller than 24 inches.” Ex-
face (B. O. F.) for that log. The computer program
pressed in formula form
they produced would then be coupled with automatic
measuring devices and setworks to solve a prob-
lem that has baffled sawmillers for many years.
But incidental to their main objective, they pro-
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the rule is, duced what must be the very ultimate in diagram
log rules.
With this program they can examine for a log
of any given diameter and degree of taper and for
a given set of production restrictions, the yield
References--5, 47, 86, 134. that can be obtained by several alternative sawing
procedures. That system which gives the maxi-
mum yield in either board feet or dollars can then
French’s Rule be selected. Some of the production conditions that
may be arbitrarily specified are as follows:
Chapman ( 47 ) reports that this rule was used 1. Width of saw kerf.
around Los Angeles and gives the following for- 2. Shrinkage during drying.
mula for approximating the values: 3. Planing allowance.
4. Allowance for sawing variation.
5. The thickness of either dry finished or green
lumber.
6. The width of either dry finished or green
This was also known as the Los Angeles Rule . lumber.
Reference--47.

20
 7. Minimum acceptable lumber dimensions. Herring Rule
8. Acceptance of wane according to National
Grading Rules. This mill scale rule, devised by T. F. Herring
In addition, the program can be biased towards of Beaumont, Texas, in 1871, is based on 1-inch
the production of a given mix of sizes and will lumber. In scaling, the small-end diameter out -
examine the possibility of increasing the yield by side bark is used for logs up to 20 feet in length.
reducing the length of a piece and getting greater Each length over 20 feet is given an additional inch
width because of taper. The sawing methods which in diameter and scaled as a separate log. In appli-
can currently be examined are, cation this rule is sometimes changed so that for
1. Live sawing with centered flitch. logs over 20 feet and up to 40 feet the scaling
2. Live sawing with centered sawline. diameter is increased by 1 inch, and for logs over
3. Live sawing with variable-face opening. 40 feet and up to 60 feet the diameter is increased
4. Cant sawing with centered cant. by 2 inches.
5. Cant sawing with variable-face opening. Originally the rule was made for logs 12 to 42
The Reverend Scribner would be green with envy! inches in diameter and 10 to 60 feet in length. To
References--92, 93, 94. permit scaling of smaller logs, R. Chester Davant,
a scaler for the Texas Tram and Lumber Company
of Beaumont, devised an extension based on the
Hanna Rule Orange River Rule and agreeing closely with the
Scribner extension. This Davant Extension covers
logs down to 5 inches in diameter.
Chapman ( 47 ) reports that this rule was devel- Another extension covered logs over 60 and up
oped by John S. Hanna of Lock Haven, Pa., in 1885. to 70 feet in length. This appeared in a table of
The rule covers diameters of 8 to 50 inches and the Herring Rule published by the Kirby Lumber
follows Scribner values quite closely. Comparing Company and is credited to W. A. Cushman of
the two rules, the Hanna appears to bean attempt Beaumont.
to smooth out some of the irregularities of the McKenzie ( 134 ) expressed the Herring Rule by
older rule. two formulae:
For approximating the volume of 12-foot logs,
A. L. Daniels gives the formula, L, for logs
up to 30 inches in diameter:

L, for logs
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for this rule is,
30 to 42 inches in diameter.

The Herring Rule is used mostly on Texas pine

This formula applies approximately to logs 12 and is said to give a large over-run. It is similar
to 42 inches in diameter. Although Chapman re- to or the same as the Beaumont Rule.
ported that the Hanna Rule was an attempt to References--4, 25, 47, 86, 104, 134, 164.
smooth out the values of the Scribner Rule,
McKenzie remarked that the original “Hannah”
values were very erratic, which would seem to Holden Rule --See the Derby Rule.
support the contention that the Hanna is a diagram
rule.
The rule was used locally in Pennsylvania, Holden and Robinson Rule --See the Derby Rule.
Tennessee, Virginia, New York, and
Massachusetts.
References--44, 47, 86, 95, 134. Holland Rule --See the Maine Rule,

21
Hoyt Rule This formula, which is similar in concept to the
Seventeen Inch Rule (discussed later), gives 63.4
No information. Possibly a “standard” rule ex- percent of the cubic content of a cylinder 1 foot
pressed in board feet (like the New Hampshire long and proportionately less of an entire log de-
Rule). pending on taper, length, and diameter.
Reference--l 92. References--47, 86, 88.

Humboldt Rule --See the Spaulding Rule. International 1/8-Inch Kerf Rule

This rule was developed by Judson F. Clark in

Humphrey Rule 1900 while working for the Province of Ontario and
was published ( 53 ) in 1906. It is based on a very
This is a caliper rule (diameter measured at carefully reasoned analysis of the losses occur-
the middle of the log) used in central New England ring during the conversion of sawlogs to lumber
for estimating the portion of a cord in bolts or and is one of the few rules incorporating a basis
logs. According to David M. Smith of Yale for dealing with log taper. The basic formula was
University the primary application of the rule was developed for 4-foot logs.
in the measurement of old-field white pine logs
purchased for the box industry. Because round-
edged boards were acceptable, utilization was very
close and it was assumed that the maximum yield Based on studies of a number of northeastern tree
of a standard cord (4 by 4 by 8 feet) was about 100 species, Clark made a conservative taper assump-
cubic feet of solid wood. Therefore, the Humphrey tion of 1/2 inch in 4 feet. The volumes for longer
Rule measures logs in cubic feet and divides by lengths are then obtained by calculating and ac-
100 to give the volume in “Humphrey Decimal cumulating the volumes of successive 4-foot sec-
Cords.” Smith notes that there was a variant of tions. Alternatively, the basic formula could be
the rule in which division was by 128 rather than expanded to cover the desired lengths. Thus,
100.
The Vermont Rule (a board foot rule) is also
called the Humphrey Rule.
Reference--50.

Hyslop Rule

This is said to be practically the same as the

Scribner Decimal Rule. Clark specified that lengths over 20 feet were to
Reference--88. be scaled as 2 or more logs.
The formula given by McKenzie ( 134 ) for 4-foot
sections is,
Inscribed Square Rule

The width of a square inscribed in a 24-inch

circle is about 17 inches. If we assume that the
width of the square inscribed in any circle is Grosenbaugh ( 90 ) has given the following inte-
17/24 of the diameter, then the cubic volume of grated formula for the International 1/8-Inch Rule
the square timber that can be cut from a log D applicable to logs of any length up to 20 feet.
inches in diameter is,

22
 feet and averages 1-1/2 inches but is found in
99 percent of all logs and should be accounted
for by increasing the allowance for slabbing
and edging. Any crook over 4 inches must be
taken into account by the scaler.
6. Clark found that the necessary allowance for
slabs, edgings, crook, etc., amounts to 2.12D
A rule of thumb sometimes used for logs of any
for 12-foot logs or 0.71D for 4-foot logs.
length is,
7. The result then, to this point, is

In his original publication, Clark ( 53 ) presented 8. Taper can be standardized for purposes of
a table of the rule in which all formula values had a log rule by assuming an average of 1/2
been rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 board inch every 4 feet and scaling each 4-foot
feet (a suggestion made by Overton W. Price of section as a cylinder. This method of dealing
the U.S. Forest Service). Chapman ( 48 ) has pointed with taper was the principal improvement by
out that it is not the formula but this table which Clark over Daniels Universal Rule.
is the real International 1/8-Inch Kerf Rule. To handle saw kerfs other than 1/8 inch, Clark
The principles enunciated by Clark in the de- ( 53 ) gives the following factors:
velopment of this rule are of interest.
1. The loss due to saw kerf and shrinkage in
Kerf Factor
thickness varies directly with the cross-
sectional area of the cylinder (or cubic
7/64 inch plus 1.3 percent
volume of the log) and hence, as the square
of the diameter. After deducting for a saw
3/16 inch less 5.0 percent
kerf of 1/8 inch and shrinkage (plus varia-
tions in thickness due to sawing) of 1/16
1/4 inch less 9.5 percent
inch, the board foot content of a 12-foot log
5/16 inch less 13.6 percent

3/8 inch less 17.4 percent

2. To allow for shrinkage in the width, all frac-
tions of an inch encountered in measuring 7/16 inch less 20.8 percent
board widths are dropped. This is equivalent
to an allowance of nearly 1/2 inch per board. This is also known as Clark’s International Rule .
3. The waste due to slabbing and edging is pro- References--l3, 17, 34, 39, 44, 47, 48, 50, 52,
portional to the area of the bark surface, and 53, 81, 86, 90, 91, 124, 131, 134, 180, 205.
hence, to the diameter of the log. Unlike the
loss in saw kerf which can be derived
mathematically, the loss in slabs and edgings International 1/4-Inch Kerf Rule
must be obtained from diagrams and sub-
jected to mill tests. Though a properly operating bandsaw mill cut-
4. The waste in slabs and edgings depends on the ting the type of timber on which Clark based his
minimum width of board allowed. In develop- estimates of waste allowance should be able to
ing his rule, Clark specified that the mini- equal the recoveries indicated by the International
mum board be 3 inches in width, containing 1/8-Inch Kerf Rule, many mills obviously did not
not less than 2 board feet. A 3-inch board meet these requirements and the rule received
then must be at least 8 feet long; a 5-inch little support from buyers. For this reason, Clark
board, 5 feet long and a 6-inch board, 4 feet in 1917 modified the rule to allow for a saw kerf
long. of 1/4 inch (Chapman and Meyer ( 50 ) say that this
5. Normal crook does not exceed 4 inches in 12 was done in 1920 at the suggestion of

23
H. H. Chapman). The change was made as follows: Grosenbaugh ( 90 ) also developed an integrated
formula to be used for the “International 1/4-Inch
Rule” when the taper is assumed to be T inches
per foot of length rather than the standard taper
of 1/2 inch in 4 feet.
As in the rule for 1/8-inch saw kerf, a taper of
1/2 inch in 4 feet is assumed in calculating the
volume of longer logs and all values are rounded
to the nearest multiple of 5 board feet.

In 1953, an “International Decimal 1/4-Inch

Kerf Rule” was authorized ( 131 ) for use on National
Forest timber sales. The basic International for-
mula was used to calculate values which were then
Lengths over 20 feet are to be scaled as two or rounded to the nearest 10 board feet and a table
more logs. was published showing values for logs 6 to 30
Grosenbaugh’s ( 90 ) integrated formula for the inches in diameter by 1-inch classes and 8 to 16
rule is, feet long by 2-foot classes.
There are three other modifications of the rule
which found little favor in the eyes of H. H.
Chapman ( 48 ). One of these involved an “improve-
ment” in the rule made by the Federal Land Bank
of Springfield, Mass., on the scale sticks they dis-
tributed to small woodland owners. The “improve-
ment” involved using interpolated values rather
As an approximation for the volume of 16-foot than the original tabular values for six small sizes.
logs, Gervorkiantz ( 81 ) gave the formula:

There have been a number of modifications pro-

posed for the International 1/4-Inch Rule. In 1944,
Simmons ( 180 ) published a table of “International The second unauthorized change was made by
1/4-inch” values for logs 20 feet in length and over the U.S. Forest Service Division of Mensuration
with diameter measured inside bark at the middle with the publication of a table showing ‘Inter-
of the log. national 1/4-inchn values calculated to the nearest
Grosenbaugh and Arend ( 91 ) modified the rule board foot rather than the nearest multiple of 5
for use on small eastern red cedar logs. For this board feet. This appeared in the 1927 and 1930
species, boards as small as 1 inch by 2 inches by editions of Farmers Bulletin 1210 but was cor-
2 feet are considered merchantable and this close rected in 1939 in Vocational Division Bulletin 196
utilization results in sizable over-runs. The for- and in the 1940 edition of Farmers Bulletin 1210.
mulae for the modified rule are: Finally, the American Forestry Association,
after distributing 1,000 scale sticks bearing the
unauthorized Forest Service values, decided in
1939 to make some further changes. They re-
calculated 16 of the Forest Service values, again
to the nearest board foot, and issued 500 more
sticks with these amended values.

24
 The International 1/4-Inch Kerf Rule is the Lumberman’s Favorite Rule
statute rule in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New York (1930), and This diagram rule was devised by W. B. Judson
Vermont. in 1877. It has been used in Virginia, West
References--See International 1/8-Inch Kerf Virginia, Michigan, New York, Texas, Tennessee,
Rule. Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and
Missouri. It was published in the Lumberman’s
International 5/16-Inch Kerf Rule -- Handbook in 1880.
See the Alberta Rule. The original values, which were quite erratic,
were approximated by McKenzie ( 134 ) with the
Jackson’s Rule --See Baughman’s Rule. formula,

Knouf’s Rule
On small logs, this rule runs about 15 percent
This rule was devised in 1895 by Clyde E. Knouf under the Scribner Rule.
and Elmer Lancaster as a rule-of-thumb approxi- The rule is also known as the Favorite Rule and
mation to the Scribner Rule ( 132 ). the Lumberman’s Rule .
References--47, 86, 134

L u m b e r m a n ’ s S c a l e -- See Square of Three-

In the State of Idaho, the statute rule is the Fourths Rule.
Scribner Decimal C. For logs with diameters
larger than those given on the scale stick or in
Maine Rule
cases where a scale stick is not available, the
Idaho scaling manual ( 106 ) recommends the above
This rule was devised by Charles T. Holland, a
formula be used as a rule of thumb. To conform
surveyor, in either 1856 or 1867. It is a diagram
with decimal C practice, the calculated values
rule based on 1-inch boards with a minimum width
are divided by 10 and rounded off to the nearest
unit. of 6 inches and an allowance of 1/4 inch for kerf.
References--106, 132. Graves and Ziegler ( 88 ) say that the values were
obtained by diagraming the inscribed square of
a log with 1-inch boards and a 1/4-inch kerf al-
Leaver Scale --No information. lowance. Boards outside the square were in-
cluded only if 6 inches wide or over. As Young
( 202 ) points out, this is, in effect, similar to
sawing “around the log” rather than “through and
Lehigh Rule --See the Square of Two-Thirds Rule.
through” as was assumed in the Scribner Rule.
The original Maine Rule was for logs 6 to 48 inches
in small-end diameter ( 162 ). Chapman ( 47 ) claims
Licking River Rule--Referred to by Chapman ( 47 );
that fractional parts of a board foot amounting to
no further information available.
over 0.5 were reckoned as a whole foot, and those
less than 0.5 were rejected, and that this resulted
in a rule that is the most consistent and accurate
Los Angeles Rule --See French’s Rule.
of any diagram rule in common use.
Taper is ignored, except that 32-foot lengths are
scaled as two or more logs with the scaler meas-
Lumberman’s Rule --See Lumberman’s Favorite
uring the diameter of the first log and estimating
Rule.
the diameter of the remaining logs. The rule was
actually devised for short logs and performs poor-
ly when applied to long ones. Young ( 202 ) recom-

25
mended that logs over 16 feet long be scaled as the Massachusetts Rule. For 12-foot logs with
two or more logs with an increase in scaling diam- diameter measured at the middle of the log out-
eter of 1 inch for every 16 feet of length. side bark, Cook gives the following values:
There are several different tables for the Maine
Rule in circulation. Cary ( 44 ) and Watson ( 196 )
published tables of the original diagram values.
Because these values are somewhat erratic as are Reference--58.
all diagram and mill-tally rules, several authors
have attempted to smooth them out. The values
published by Graves ( 86 ) were “made regular by Massachusetts Rule
interpolation by H. D. Tiemann.” The formula
given by Tiemann ( 192 ) for approximating the This rule is based on yield studies made in 1905
“corrected” Maine Rule is, at 12 New England mills by R. C. Hawley. Tallies
were made of 1,200 white pine logs, down to 4
inches small-end diameter, cut with a 1/4-inch
saw kerf. The rule is constructed for round- and
square-edged boards as sawed from small logs for
Young ( 202 ) presents a table with values calcu-
close utilization of second growth. Some 1-1/4-
lated from a regression equation fitted to the
inch and 2-1/8-inch lumber was included, so the
Maine Rule. The equation for 16-foot logs is,
values are slightly high for 1-inch boards. Belyea
( 13 ) states that the boards were measured on their
average face, thus most fully utilizing the factor
Daniels ( 65 ) proposed the following equation for
of taper and at the same time reducing the factor
12-foot logs:
of slab to a minimum. For 4- to 10-inch logs the
rule runs 20 to 50 percent higher than those given
by the International 1/8-Inch Kerf Rule.
This rule is presented in two forms: (1) Small-
McKenzie ( 134 ) used two equations to approxi-
end diameter inside bark, and (2) middle diameter
mate the Maine Rule.
outside bark. In the second form, Cook ( 58 ) gives
the following values for 12-foot logs.

6 to 15 inches in diameter

References--13, 16, 47, 50, 58, 87.

to 48 inches in diameter
McKenzie Rule
The Maine Rule is also known as Hollands Rule
or Fabian’s Rule . It is also called the Bangor Rule There is no specific rule of this name.
in some areas, but Young ( 202 ) points out that there McKenzie, like Daniels (in 1903), Clark (in 1906),
is a distinct but seldom used Bangor Rule. and Tiemann (in 1910), made a detailed analysis
References--13, 44, 47, 60, 77, 86, 88, 105, 134, of the board foot yield of logs and concluded that
162, 188, 192, 195, 196, 202. the factors to consider in calculating the volume
in boards that may be sawed from a log are the
slabs and edgings, normal crook, saw kerf,
Margolin Rule shrinkage, the dimensions of the sawed lumber,
log taper, and excessive taper in small logs.
Cook ( 5 8 ) states that this is a mill scale rule Specifically
constructed from data collected by Margolin and 1, The allowance for slabs and edgings is a
Lyford in southern New Hampshire and published function of the barked area and varies direct-
in the 1905-06 report of the New Hampshire ly with it.
Forestry Commission. It is said to be similar to 2. Normal crook is also a function of the barked

26
 area and varies directly with it.
3. The allowance for sawdust is a function of the
saw kerf and the average dimension of the
lumber being sawed. Similarly, shrinkage is Ignoring the losses in shrinkage and dressing, the
a function of the average lumber dimension. formula for 16-foot logs would be,
For any given saw kerf and shrinkage, and
any specified average lumber dimension the
loss allowance should vary directly as the
volume after deduction for slabs. It was pointed out that in this case the constant
4. Taper is allowed for by figuring an average a had an unusually small value (1 inch) because of
taper of “e” inches in “f” feet of length and the fact that slabs were cut very thin and edgings
accumulating the cylinder volumes of sec- were graded as moulding stock. Also, short
tions. lengths were cut from logs where taper was great
5. The excessive taper in small logs is offset enough to permit it. The volume of logs of other
by adding a constant not to exceed 10 board lengths was calculated with a taper allowance of
feet. 1 inch in 8 feet and tables were prepared for logs
In 1915, McKenzie published a general log rule 8 to 32 feet in length, and 4 to 120 inches in diam-
formula which could be used in any specified set eter. This is what is sometimes referred to as
of operating conditions. the McKenzie Rule.
In addition to the development of a general for-
mula, McKenzie analyzed many of the existing log
rules and found that almost all of them could be
where: D = diameter (inches) inside bark at the expressed by an equation of the form,
small end of the log.
L = log length (feet)
a = a constant allowing for loss in slabs,
edgings, and normal crook where: a = a reduction in diameter to allow for
b = loss in thickness due to shrinkage the loss in slabs and edgings
and dressing (inches) b = a constant
c = loss in width due to shrinkage and c = a value between 0 and 1 representing
dressing (inches) the proportional loss in saw kerf
C = a constant of less than 10 board feet after allowing for the loss due to
to allow for excessive taper in slabs, edgings, and normal crook.
small top logs None of the log rules analyzed had values for
k = width of saw kerf (inches) both a and b such that one of them could not easily
t = thickness of lumber sawed (inches) be eliminated. This led to the classification of
w = width of lumber sawed (inches) rules into three general types.
Although the idea of a universal formula which
could be adapted to any situation has an intuitive
appeal, McKenzie’s formula has had very little
use in practice. Tiemann ( 193 ), while recognizing
the great merit of McKenzie’s work, felt that a
general formula was undesirable since the re-
sulting proliferation of local log rules would cause
even greater confusion in the already abominable
log rule situation References--134, 193.
To illustrate the use of his formula, McKenzie
made a study of the Red River Lumber Company
mill in Lassen County, Calif. The formula was Michigan Decimal C Rule --No information.
first applied to 16-foot logs, thereby getting the
effects of taper over the 16-foot length included Mid-Doyle Rule --See Doyle Rule.
with the slabs. The results were:

27
Miller Rule --See Bangor Rule. record, having been made the statute rule for the
Province of New Brunswick on April 14, 1845.
Miner Rule --See Square of Two-Thirds Rule. Ker ( 113 ) states that it is an uncurved diagram
rule based on 1-inch boards and a 5/16-inch kerf.
The original table, reprinted by Robinson ( 162 ),
Minnesota Rule --See Scribner Rule. shows values for logs 11 to 24 inches in diameter
and 12 to 50 feet in length. This table indicates
Minnesota Standard --See Scribner Role. that volume was made proportional to length for
logs up to 24 feet. Greater lengths were appar-
ently treated as two nearly equal-length short
Mississippi Pine Pole Scale logs with the scaling diameter of the second log
being 1 inch greater than that of the first log. Thus,
There may be several local rules known by this the value given for a 14-inch log 36 feet long is
name or something similar. One of these was equal to the sum of values for a 14- and a 15-inch
developed by R. S. Spencer, mill manager for the log, each 18 feet long. The value shown for an 18-
Daley Lumber Company at Oxford, Miss. The rule inch 30-foot log is equal to the sum of values for
is based on mill tallies of 250,000 feet of southern an 18-inch log 16 feet long and a 19-inch log 14
pine logs sawed at the Daley Mill. Several checks feet long.
have been made and local loggers claim that it The official table now issued by the New Bruns-
“gives a good scale.” For 16-foot logs over 8 wick Department of Lands and Mines (DLM) has
inches in diameter the values are very close to values for logs 3 to 30 inches in diameter and 8 to
those of the formula Scribner Rule. Logs other than 23 feet long. Ker ( 113 ) says that in application,
16 feet long are given a volume proportional to diameter is always rounded down to the nearest
their length. whole inch and logs longer than those covered by
A fairly good approximation to the rule is given the table are to be scaled in two or more lengths.
by, It will be noted that this table includes log
diameters not covered by the original rule.
Robinson ( 162 ) reports that the “New Brunswick
Statute Log Scale” as published in 1919 contained
values for logs 8 to 10 inches in diameter and up
or, when expressed as a general formula of the
to 34 feet in length plus values for logs 25 to 30
type used by McKenzie,
inches in diameter up to 28 feet long. Still later,
in 1927, values were provided for logs 3 to 7
inches in diameter and 10 to 18 feet in length and
some of these were said to have been “adjusted”
in 1933. The sources of the various extensions are
Moore Rule --See Doyle Rule.
not known. In the DLM tables the values shown for
logs 25 to 30 inches in diameter are identical to
Moore and Beeman Rule --See Doyle Rule. those of the Maine Rule. Similarly, the values
given for 6- and 7-inch logs are the same as those
of the Maine Rule. Cary ( 44 ) states that logs, 7,
Murdoch Rule --See Partridge Rule.
8, 9, and 10 inches in diameter were given values
equal to 2, 2-1/2, 3, and 4 times their length re-
Murdoch and Fairbanks Rule --See the Partridge spectively and this is verified by the current tables
Rule. except for the 7-inch logs. No explanation has been
found for the values of 3-, 4-, and 5-inch logs.
Although both Robinson ( 162 ) and Ker ( 113 ) have
New Rule --See the Doyle Rule.
identified this as a diagram rule, others have clas-
sified it as a mill scale rule and Ross ( 164 ) claims
New Brunswick Rule that it is a combination rule, the values up through
18 inches being from the Vermont Rule while the
This is one of the oldest board foot rules on values for larger logs are from the Maine Rule.

28
This seems rather doubtful in view of the very Newfoundland Rule
early publication date for the New Brunswick Rule.
However, it is worth noting that the values for logs Robinson ( 162 ) reports that this became the
11 to 16 inches in diameter can be calculated by statute rule of Newfoundland in 1916. The act
reads in part, “The board measure shall be deter-
mined by multiplying the diameter of the log at
the top by one-half of said diameter in inches, and
multiplying the product by length of the log in feet
which is the current form of the Vermont Rule.
and dividing the resulting product by 12. The re-
References--12, 13, 16, 44, 47, 113, 162, 164.
sult shall be the board foot measure of the log in
feet.” This is the same as the formula often given
New Hampshire Rule for the Vermont Rule.

This rule was, at one time, extensively used in

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is based
on a “standard” 1 foot long and 16 inches in diam-
Except for the point of measurement, it is also
eter which is taken to equal 1 cubic foot. This is
identical to the Delaware Middle Diameter Rule.
referred to as a “Blodgett foot” and all logs are
Robinson ( 162 ) says that, “Compared with the
scaled in terms of Blodgett feet. Since the actual
International 1/4-Inch Rule which is used in
volume of the standard is 1.396 cubic feet, the
Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and with the Roy and
rule is a rough attempt to allow for the waste in
New Brunswick log rules, it is high for logs with
squaring round logs. However, an inscribed square
small-end diameters under 10 inches, and low for
uses 63.6 percent of a circle while the “Blodgett
logs of 14 inches in diameter and up.”
Foot” uses 71.6 percent and would be a waney
References--113, 162.
square.
The diameter is measured at the middle of the
log and the formula for the volume in Blodgett
New Scribner Rule --See the Doyle Rule.
Feet is:

New York Twenty - Two - Inch Standard -- See

Adirondack Standard.
The legal factor for conversion to board feet was
set at 100 Blodgett feet = 1,000 board feet, but in
practice this was thought to give a too high a board New York Twenty - Four - Inch Standard -- See
foot scale so an arbitrary factor of 115 was Adirondack Standard.
adapted. When diameter is measured at the small
end of the log a factor of 106 is used, though it
would be more accurate to use a factor that varied Nineteen-Inch Standard --See Adirondack Standard.
with the diameter and length of the log.
As an approximation for the board foot volume
of logs by the New Hampshire Rule, A. L. Daniels Noble Rule --See Square of Three-Fourths Rule.
( 65 ) gave the following formula:

Noble and Cooley Rule --See Square of Three-

Fourths Rule.
This became known as the New Hampshire Rule
when it was adapted as the Statute rule of that
State. Previously it was more commonly known as Northeastern Rule --No information.
the Blodgett Rule .
References--13, 16, 44, 47, 50, 65, 86, 88, 187,
191.

29
Northwestern Rule Ontario Rule was adopted as the official rule in
1952. It applies to logs 4 to 40 inches top diameter
This is an extremely erratic diagram or mill and 8 to 18 feet long. The accepted formula is:
scale rule based on 3/8-inch saw kerf. It was
used to some extent in Michigan and Illinois. For
16-foot logs, Graves and Ziegler ( 8 8 ) give the
following values: The rule is based on a general lumber recovery
formula outlined by Chapman ( 47 ) in 1921.

where: b = percentage of volume deducted for

saw kerf, shrinkage, and sawing
inaccuracy.
References--4, 47, 86, 88, 164. A = an allowance for loss in slabs and
edgings. For convenience, this
loss is expressed in terms of a
Ochiltree Rule --See the Orange River Rule. plank with a width of D inches, a
thickness of A inches, and a length
of L feet.
Ohio River Rule --See Big Sandy Cube Rule. Using lumber recovery data published by Bell
( 12 ), the appropriate values were found to be b =
0.30 and A = 1.1. The value of A was adjusted to
Ohio River Cube Rule 1.2 to move the curve between the values given by
Bell and those presented by industry.
A standard rule--may be the same as the Big Morison and Pennock ( 141 ) have given details
Sandy Cube Rule. on the application of the Ontario Rule. For logs of
Reference--4. 4 to 20 inches in diameter, 1/2-inch diameter
classes are used and measurements are always
rounded down to the next lower 1/2-inch class.
Ontario Cubic Foot Formula For logs over 20 inches, 1-inch classes are used
and measurements are rounded down to the next
Robinson ( 162 ) indicates that cubic foot volumes lower 1-inch class. The rule applies to logs 8 to
in Ontario shall be based on Smalian’s formula. 18 feet long; other lengths must be scaled by
other methods.
References--7, 12, 17, 47, 113, 141, 162.

where D 1 and D 2—are the diameters at the ends of Orange River Rule
—

the logs in inches. No other references to this The formula for this rule is:
rule were found.
Reference--162.

Ontario Rule McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the rule is,

As Ker ( 1 1 3 ) notes, the Scribner Rule was

authorized for use in the Province of Ontario in
1869. It was superseded in 1879 by the Doyle Rule The rule was used in Texas and is similar to
which for this reason is sometimes called the or the same as the Ochiltree Rule and the Sabine
Ontario Rule. The rule which is now known as the River Rule .

30
 References--47, 86, 134. is regarded as a seller’s rule. McKenzie ( 134 ) used
two formulae for approximating the values of the
Preston Rule.
Parsons Rule

This is a diagram rule once used in Maine and

similar in construction to the Bangor Rule and the
Maine Rule. The values, which run about 2 percent
lower than those of the Maine Rule, can be approxi-
mated by McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula. The dividing line between small and large logs
is not given.
Although McKenzie’s formulae appear to be con-
sistent with the allowances for saw kerf and slabs
References--4, 47, 86, 134. given for the Preston Rule, the values calculated
from these formulae do not agree too well with the
tabular values. Better approximations are given
Partridge Rule by the equations:

The origin of this rule is not clear. Chapman

( 47 ) described it as an obsolete rule based on a
cubic foot formula while Belyea ( 1 6 ) lists it as
a diagram rule and claims that it was based on
7/8-inch boards. Graves ( 86 ) also notes that it was
based on 7/8-inch boards but says nothing about
the derivation. The suggestion that it is not a for-
mula rule seems to be supported by McKenzie’s
( 134 ) comment that the original values were some- References--47, 86, 134.
what erratic. His formula for approximating the
values is,
Puget Sound Rule --See the Drew Rule.

Quebec Rule
The Partridge Rule was once used in Massa-
chusetts and is said to be similar to or the same
This is a diagram rule devised around 1889. It
as the Murdoch Rule , Fairbanks Rule , or Murdoch
was at one time the statute rule of the Province
and Fairbanks Rule .
but was replaced by a cubic foot rule in 1936 and
References--16, 47, 86, 134.
by the Roy Rule in 1945.
The original rule was for logs 6 to 44 inches in
Penobscot Rule --See the Bangor Rule. diameter but at a later date, arbitrary values were
assigned to logs down to 3 inches in diameter. The
rule assumes a 1/4-inch saw kerf and a minimum
Pine Pole Scale --See the Mississippi Pine Pole
board width of 5 inches. Values were obtained for
Scale.
1- and 3-inch-thick boards and the averages of
these were adjusted and curved after comparison
with mill tallies made on a few hundred logs. The
Portland Rule --See the Square of Three-Fourths
Rule. original table was based on 12-foot logs and other
lengths are given values proportional to their
length. Taper is ignored except that on logs over
Preston Rule 18 feet long, the average of the two end diameters
is used as the scaling diameter. one peculiarity
This rule was used in Florida and Georgia and is that the 3/4-inch mark is used as the lower

31
limit of the diameter class. McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula is,
References--13, 44, 47, 50, 78, 162, 169.

Quebec Standard --See Adirondack Standard.

References--47, 86, 134, 163.

Rapraeger Rule
Rotary Log Scale --See Baughman’s Rule.
A West Coast cubic foot rule with diameter
measured at the small end of the log and an as-
sumed taper of 1 inch in 8 feet. No further infor-
Roy Rule
mation.
Reference--35.
This rule was devised by Henri Roy ( 169 ). The
formula is,

Robinson Rule --See the Derby Rule.

Robinson’s Cubic Foot Rule In 1945 it was made the official rule of the
Province of Quebec. Robinson ( 162 ) reports that
In 1908, Halbert G. Robinson ( 161 ) of Patten, it is applied to logs 3 to 44 inches in small-end
Maine, published a table showing the average cubic diameter and 4 to 20 feet in length. Logs over 20
foot volume for logs of a given mid-point diameter feet are to be measured by the Quebec cubic foot
and length. The table covered logs up to 40 feet scale. Ker ( 113 ) says that in Quebec the Roy Rule
long and was based on taper and volume measure- is not applied to logs over 18 feet long.
ments of 4,398 spruce logs. He found that for logs The formula is identical to that of the Sammi
up to 40 feet long, taper averaged 1 inch in 7.5 feet; Log Rule.
longer logs had a more rapid taper and hence were References--113, 162, 169.
omitted from the table. He also found that the cal-
culated cubic volumes over-ran those given by Sabine River Rule --See the Orange River Rule.
the Huber Formula by an average of 4.9 percent.
To express the values in the table and to aid in
interpolating where the original data were insuffi- Saco River Rule
cient, Robinson developed a formula which is a
simple modification of Huber’s Formula. Chapman ( 4 7 ) claimed that this was a cubic
volume rule with multiplication by a constant for
conversion to boardfeet. However, both Ross ( 164 )
and Belyea ( 16 ) list it as a mill scale rule and the
values given by Graves ( 88 ) for 16-foot logs are
References--47, 87, 161. not consistent enough for a formula rule.

Ropp Rule
McKenzie ( 134 ) noted that the original values
were slightly erratic and approximated them by
This rule was used in Illinois by C. Ropp and
the formula.
Sons of Chicago. It was originally a diagram rule
for 1-inch lumber and a 1/4-inch kerf. Later the
rule was reduced to a rule-of-thumb formula which
severely underscales logs under 13 inches in
diameter. This rule was used in Maine and was sometimes
called the Saco Rule .
References--4, 16, 47, 86, 88,134, 164.

32
St. Croix Rule --See the Doyle Rule.
original rule by increasing the slab allowance on
larger logs.
Scribner’s account of the construction of the
St. Louis Hardwood Rule --See the Square of Two-
rule is of interest.
Thirds Rule.
“This table has been computed from accurately
drawn diagrams for each and every diameter of
Sammi Log Rule
logs from 12 inches to 44, and the exact width
of each board taken after being squared by tak-
This was devised by John C. Sammi of the New
ing off the wane edge and the contents reckoned
York State College of Forestry as a rule of thumb
up for every log, so that it is mathematically
for approximating the values of the International
certain that the true contents are here given,
1/4-Inch Rule. Noting that the Clement Rule was
and both buyer and seller of logs will un-
fairly close, he simplified the Clement formula
hesitatingly adopt these tables as the standard
for 16-foot logs to,
for all future contracts in the purchase of saw-
logs where strict honesty between party and
party is taken into account. In these revised
computations I have allowed a thicker slab to
A year later in 1937, he published a second
be taken from the larger class of logs than in
approximation called the Sammi Log Rule.
the former edition, which accounts for the dis-
crepancy between the results given in these
tables and those in former editions.

This gives values that are quite close to those “The diameter is supposed to be taken at the
of the International 1/4-Inch Rule for 16-foot logs, small end, inside the bark, and in sections of 15
but somewhat high for shorter logs and low for feet, and the fractions of an inch not taken into
longer logs. The formula is identical to that of the the measurement. This mode of measurement,
Roy Rule. which is customary, gives the buyer the advan-
tage of the swell of the log, the gain by sawing it
References--170,171
into scantling, or large timber, and the frac-
tional part of an inch in the diameter. Still it
Santa Clara Rule --See the Scribner Rule. must be remembered that logs are never
straight and that oftentimes there are concealed
defects which must be taken as an offset for the
Saranac Standard --See Adirondack Standard. gain above mentioned. It has been my desire to
furnish those who deal in lumber of any kind with
a set of tables that can implicitly be relied upon
Schenck Rule --Believed to be a mill scale rule,
for correctness by both buyer and seller, and
but no further information available.
to do so I have spared no pains nor expense to
References--4,164.
render them perfect. And it is to be hoped that
hereafter these will be preferred to the palpably
Scribner Rule erroneous tables which have hitherto been in
use. If there is any truth in mathematics or
This rule was published in 1846 by J.M. dependence to be placed in the estimates given
Scribner, a country clergyman. It is a diagram by a diagram, there cannot remain a particle of
rule for 1-inch lumber with a 1/4-inch allowance doubt of the accuracy of the results here given. ”
for saw kerf. The minimum board width is un-
known. The original table gave values for logs 12 An interesting discussion of J. M. Scribner and
to 44 inches in diameter inside bark at the small his log rule has been published by H. C. Belyea
end and for lengths of 10 to 24 feet. Fractional ( 15 , 16 ).
inches of diameter were dropped and log taper was Commenting on the performance of the Scribner
ignored. At a later date the author modified the Rule, Belyea ( 13 ) notes that it is fairly consistent

33
on logs 16 feet or less in length and under 28 developed an extension for logs over 44 inches in
inches in diameter, but that for larger logs the diameter. This was published in the 1910 edition
rule gives increasingly large over-runs. of the Woodsman’s Handbook ( 88 ). The extension
There have been a number of modifications and was based on a comparison of the curve formed
extensions to Scribner’s original tables. The by the plotted values of the rule with similar
simplest of these was the early Lake States prac- curves for the International and Spaulding Rules.
tice of rounding all values to the nearest 10 board It was built up on a 12-foot log and applied to
feet and omitting the cipher, creating the so-called lengths from 8 to 16 feet. As a concession to log-
decimal form of the rule. When it comes to ex- ging methods in the Northwest, logs up to 32 feet
tensions of the rule, things get to be very confus- were scaled without taper by this rule. Rapraeger
ing. In 1900 the Lufkin Rule Company tabulated ( 152 ) says that for logs over 40 feet the rule was
the decimal values then in use for small logs under extended by allowing a fixed taper of 1 inch in 10
three schedules, termed A, B, and C, as shown feet and was then called the Revised Scribner
below: Scale for Long Logs . These revised tables were
used in the Douglas-fir region by some commer-
cial scaling bureaus, but the U.S. Forest Service
uses the actual taper in scaling long logs.
There have been a number of formulae pro-
posed for approximating the Scribner Rule. The
one by Bruce and Schumacher mentioned above is
the most familiar and most commonly used. One
of the earliest is a formula often called Knouf’s
Rule ( 132 ):

which was developed in 1895. In 1903, A.L. Daniels

offered two equations:
The decimal form of the original rule along with
the Decimal C extension is the form of the rule
most commonly used today.
Another set of values for logs under 12 inches
was that used by the Santa Clara Lumber Company
Evidently there was some mistake in Daniels’
of New York State. Values for 16-foot logs were
calculations as all of the values given by his for-
published in Graves and Ziegler’s Woodsman’s
mulae are below the actual Scribner values. In
Handbook in 1910 and were adopted by the Canadian
1939, Lemieux ( 123 ) developed a smoothed ap-
Forestry Branch in 1914 ( 4 7 ). The State of
proximation which gave results similar to those
Minnesota adopted a set of slightly different values
of the Bruce and Schumacher formula, and in the
which were published by Cary ( 44 ) and Belyea ( 13 ).
same year, Gevorkiantz and Becton each published
The American Lumberman Vest Pocket Ready
equations for approximating the values of Scribner
Reckoner gives values calculated from the for-
Decimal C. For 16-foot logs, Gevorkiantz ( 81 ) sug-
mula,
gested

Some tables contain values based on the equation Becton gave

developed by Bruce and Schumacher ( 39 ).

These apparently were misprints as neither one

In 1905, E. A. Ziegler of the U.S. Forest Service comes close to the intended values. Since Becton

34
drew an analogy between his formulae and the Seven-Tenths Log Rule
Doyle Rule, it is possible that the divisor in each
formulae should have been 16. Information on this rule was supplied by Richard
McKenzie ( 134 ) used the following formula as an C. Smith of the University of Missouri. This rule,
approximation: which he reported using in southwest Georgia in
the early 1940’s, is similar in construction to the
Square of Three-Fourths and Square of Two-
Thirds Rules and several others. Seven-tenths of
The Scribner, in one form or another, is one of the small-end diameter represents the largest
the most widely used rules in the country. For square timber that can be sawed from a log. The
many years it was the rule prescribed by the U.S. volume of this squared timber times 12 is the
Forest Service and the Dominion Forestry Branch board foot scale of the log. Apparently in prac-
of Canada. It is or has been the Statute rule in tice, the fraction obtained after multiplying the
Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon (Coos diameter by 0.7 was rounded down to the nearest
County), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and whole inch before squaring.
Wisconsin. In Canada, Ker ( 113 ) says that it was The rule overscales logs up to about 13 inches
adapted by Ontario in 1869 (replaced by Doyle in in diameter and underscales logs larger than this.
1879), Manitoba (replaced by International 1/4-
Inch Rule in 1933), and Alberta (replaced by
International 5/16-Inch in 1957). In Saskatchewan Seventeen-Inch Rule
the Scribner Rule was used until replaced by the
International 1/4-Inch Rule in 1931 ( 162 ). This cubic foot rule is a variation of the In-
Rules that are similar to, or the same as, the scribed Square Rule. Since a square inscribed in a
Scribner are the Old Scribner Rule (after publica- circle 17 inches in diameter would have 12 inches
tion of the Doyle Rule in Scribner’s Ready on a side, a log 17 inches in diameter and 1 foot
Reckoner), the Hyslop Rule , Minnesota Rule , long would yield 1 cubic foot of square timber.
Minnesota Standard Rule , and the Santa Clara Rule . All other logs are expressed in terms of this
References--11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 37, 39, 44, 46, standard,
47, 50, 55, 77, 81, 86, 88, 112, 113, 123, 124, 132,
134, 136, 151, 152, 175, 176.

References--47, 88.
Scribner Rule (erroneous)

When Scribner’s rights to the Ready Reckoner

Seventeen-Inch Standard --See Adirondack
expired the book was reissued by Fisher who sub-
Standard.
stituted the Doyle Rule for the Scribner. Because
of this, the Doyle has been referred to as the
Scribner, the New Scribner, or the New Rule. Sorenson Log Rule
This publication also led some people to confuse
the Doyle Rule with the Doyle-Scribner or This is a West Coast cubic volume rule devised
Scribner-Doyle combination rules. in 1945 by Chester J. Sorenson. Diameter is meas-
References--15, 16. ured (in inches) inside bark at the small end of
the log and cubic volume is given as:

Scribner-Doyle Rule

This is a combination rule using Scribner values

The term is, in effect, a conversion from
for logs up to 28 inches small-end diameter and
Doyle values for larger logs. This has been the small-end to mid-point diameter based on an
statute rule of Louisiana since 1914. assumed taper of 1 inch in 10 feet.
Reference--13. References--182, 183.

35
Spaulding Rule Square of Mean Diameter Rule

This rule was devised by N. W. Spaulding of Brereton ( 27 ) mentions a rule by this name and
San Francisco in 1868. It is based on diagrams of points out that squaring the mean-end diameter
logs 10 to 96 inches in small-end diameter and (in feet) and multiplying the length gives 27.32
12 to 24 feet long. Karr ( 132 ) states that it was percent more volume than any log contains. He
for logs 10 to 44 inches in diameter in sections claims that its use became general in the export
12 feet long but, considering the size of timber for trade in 1918 as a result of losses suffered by
which the rule was developed, this seems doubtful. Pacific Coast shippers who unwisely contracted
A saw kerf of 11/32 inch and the production of to carry logs on the Scribner, Spaulding, or
1-inch lumber is assumed. The allowance for British Columbia log scales “whose erroneous
slabs increases with the size of the log, thus in- construction gave only 40 to 60 percent of the
creasing the over-run on larger logs. In practice, actual log contents in board feet.”
taper is ignored on logs up to 40 feet long and their Reference--27.
volume is made proportional to their length. For
logs over 40 feet long, Rapraeger ( 152 ) says that
an allowance for taper of 1 inch in 10 feet is made Square of Three-Fourths Rule
and that the rule is then called the Columbia River
Rule (see also the Columbia River Taper Rule). This rule was once used in New England and both
McKenzie ( 134 ) approximated the values of the Knouf ( 132 ) and Graves ( 86 ) report that the rule
Spaulding Rule by the formula, is mentioned in a “Table for Measuring Logs”
published in 1825 in Plymouth, Maine. To get the
volume of a log by this rule, “deduct one-fourth
from the diameter at the small end and express
Buell ( 40 ) reports that a special technique is the squared timber volume in board feet.” In for-
used when the Spaulding Rule is applied to the mula form,
scaling of redwoods. The diameter is measured
at two points. The first point is inside bark, 20
feet above the butt end. The second is either at
the beginning of the sound wood just below the
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the rule is,
first break or at the upper limit of merchantability,
whichever is lower. The two diameters are aver-
aged and the scale is taken for a length equal to
the total length from the butt up to the point where
Duff ( 76 ) reports that in New Zealand, Canter-
the top diameter was measured.
bury sawmilllers use the G o s s or C a n t e r b u r y
The Spaulding Rule is said to give fair results
Table which shows the volume of logs by the
on sound logs. However, mill men claim that be-
Square of Three-Fourths Rule. Rules that are
cause of felling cracks, weather checking, fire
similar to or the same as the Square of Three-
scars, etc., the mill tally underruns the scale by
Fourths Rule are the Portland Scale , Noble Rule ,
about 30 percent. To compensate for this,
Cooley Rule , Noble and Cooley Rule , Cook Rule ,
Spaulding values have been reduced by 30 percent
Crooked River Rule , Lumberman’s Scale , and
creating what is called the Humboldt Scale . A
Three-Fourths Rule .
table of the Humboldt Scale is credited to an
References--47, 76, 86, 132, 134.
A. W. Elam.
The Spaulding Rule was adapted as the statute
rule of California in 1878 and it is sometimes
known as the California Rule . It is also used in Square of Two-Thirds Rule
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wairaropa, New Zealand. In this rule, diameter is measured inside bark
References--13, 27, 40, 44, 47, 77, 86, 88, 132, at the middle of the log and the cubic foot volume
134, 152, 185. given by the Two-Thirds Cubic Foot Rule is con-
verted to board feet using a 12 to 1 conversion

36
ratio. In effect, this comes down to: approximated by,

Reference--47.
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the rule is,

Tennessee River Rule --See the Square of Two-

Thirds Rule.

The rule is frequently and erroneously applied

using the small-end diameter of the log. This rule Third and Fifth Rule --See the Cumberland River
has been used in the Ozarks for redcedar logs, in Rule.
the Middle Atlantic States for hardwood logs, and
to some extent on pine logs in the South Atlantic
States. Thomas’s Accurate Rule
Rules that are similar to, or the same as, the
Square of Two-Thirds Rule are the Two-Thirds Chapman ( 47 ) gives the formula for this rule
Rule , St. Louis Hardwood Rule , Tennessee River (for a 1/4-inch saw kerf) as,
Rule , Lehigh Rule , Miner Rule , and Cedar Log
Scale .
References--47, 86, 132, 134.
A formula has also been developed for 1/8-inch
kerf.
Stillwell Rule --Seethe Stillwell Vade Mecum Rule.
Reference--47.

Stillwell’s Vade Mecum Rule

Three-Fourths Rule --See the Square of Three-
Fourths Rule.
This rule, used in Georgia, is of obscure origin.
Chapman ( 47 ) states that it is an obsolete rule
based on a cubic foot formula, while Belyea ( 16 )
Thurber Rule --See the Doyle Rule.
lists it as a diagram rule. McKenzie’s ( 134 ) com-
ment that the original values were erratic would
seem to support Belyea.
Tiemann Rule
For approximating the values of this rule,
McKenzie ( 134 ) gave the formula, In publishing his rule in 1910, H. D. Tiemann
( 192 ) wrote, “The log scale has been for so long
a time a hackneyed subject of discussion, and has
been attacked from so many points of view, that
to bring it up once more would seem almost in-
Other names that have been used for the rule excusable without particularly good reason. Yet
are Stillwell’s Rule and Vade Mecum Rule . the very fact that the means of reducing round
References--16, 47, 86, 134. logs to some tangible unit of measure is still a
mooted question shows that the problem has not
yet reached an altogether satisfactory solution.
Tatarian Rule “To find the cubical contents of a log is a simple
matter, and to determine how much a given log
Chapman ( 47 ) says this rule was used in Wis- with a known ‘rise’ in taper would saw out as
consin and describes it as a board foot rule based boards under given conditions is also compara-
on a cubic foot formula. The values may be tively easy. If this were all there were to deter-

37
mine, there would be no problem Nor would there Twenty-One-Inch Standard --See the Adirondack
be a problem if all logs were cylindrical. It is the Standard.
taper, then, which really constitutes the main dif-
ficulty and makes a theoretically simple matter
exceedingly complex in its practical application.” Twenty-Two-Inch Standard --See the Adirondack
Tiemann followed the principles enunciated by Standard.
Daniels ( 65 ) and Clark ( 53 ) except for the manner
in which he handled the taper problem. Daniels
pretty much ignored taper while Clark assumed an Two-Thirds Rule --See the Square of Two-Thirds
average taper and built up volumes from a series Rule.
of 4-foot-long cylinders with increasing diam-
eters. Tiemann’s solution was to measure diam-
eter inside bark at the middle of the log rather than Two-Thirds Cubic Foot Rule
at the small end.
From the results of a mill scale study in Maine, The cubic volume by this rule is obtained by re-
primarily on white pine, Tiemann curved the yield ducing the middle diameter (D m ) by one-third,
of 1-inch lumber from 224 “perfect” logs slash- squaring, and multiplying by log length.
sawed with 3/16-inch kerf. The log rule he devised
to conform to this curve is

In some cases, the average of the two end diam-

This is applied on logs up to 24 feet long. As eters is used. In the redcedar industry, the small-
Tiemann pointed out, the use of mid-point diam- end diameter is used and the cubic volume multi-
eter does not completely solve the taper problem. plied by 12 for conversion to board feet.
The rule is accurate for 16-foot logs, but gives This rule is sometimes called the Big Sandy
a very small over-run on shorter logs and a slight Cube Rule though the rule commonly known by that
under-run on longer ones. Logs between 24 and 48 name specifies diameter measurement at the
feet long are divided and scaled as two equal length small end of the log.
logs, using two mid-log diameter measurements. References--47, 86, 88, 177, 205.
Logs over 48 feet long require three diameter
measurements.
Because of the difficulty in measuring mid- Universal Rule
point diameters, the end diameters (D 1 and D 2 )
— —
sometimes are measured. In this case, the values The Champlain Rule introduced by A. L. Daniels
of D 2 in the formula is obtained from, in 1902 was not well received. The complaints
made against it were that it assumes all logs to be
straight, round, and free from defects. In addition,
it assumes that the loss in manufacture of the
board is due only to sawdust, slabbing, and edging,
and not to crooks, knots, or other blemishes. To
Although the Tiemann Rule has considerable overcome these shortcomings, Daniels, in October
merit, it has seen very little practical applica- 1903, modified the Champlain Rule to produce the
tion because of the added difficulty and cost of Universal Rule. The only change is to increase
mid-point measurement of diameter. surface waste allowance to the equivalent of a
References--14, 47, 48, 192, 194. 2-inch plank whose width equals the diameter of
the log (the Champlain Rule has a surface waste
allowance equivalent to a 1-inch plank). With this
Twenty-Four-Inch Standard --See the Adirondack change the formula becomes:
Standard.

38
 Graves ( 86 ) gave the formula as McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the Vermont Rule
is,

which is apparently a misprint. The Winder Rule may be similar to, or the same
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for the Universal as, the Vermont Rule. The Vermont Rule has also
Rule is, been called the Humphrey Rule , but there is also a
cubic volume rule with this same name.
References--47, 50, 86, 134.

This is also called Daniels Rule and Daniels

Universal Rule . Warner Rule
References--18, 47, 65, 66, 80, 134, 192.
This is a diagram rule once used locally in
New York. Chapman ( 47 ) described it as a worth-
Universal Standard Log Scale --See the Doyle- less rule with an excessive allowance of 3/4 inch
Scribner Rule. for saw kerf.
McKenzie’s ( 134 ) formula for approximating the
values of the Warner Rule is,
Vade Mecum Rule --See Stillwell’s Vade Mecum
Rule.

References--47, 86, 134.

Vannoy Rule --See the Doyle Rule.

Western Pine Association Rule

Vermont Rule
This is a rule of thumb used in Idaho for logs
The Vermont Rule values are simply 12 times over 30 inches in diameter and 16 feet or less in
the cubic foot volumes given by the Inscribed length.
Square Rule.

Reference--106.

Graves ( 8 6 ) reports that the Vermont Rule,

which was the legal standard in Vermont, though Wheeler Rule
seldom used there, was revised in 1894 to:
For 16-foot logs, Graves ( 86 ) gives the follow-
ing values:

which is not greatly different from the first for-

mula. However, it was specified that the revised No other information is available,
formula was for 12-foot logs and that longer logs References--47, 86, 88.
would be scaled in 12-foot lengths starting at the
small end. This leads to the simplified form,
White Rule

This diagram rule, a modified version of the

Scribner, was devised by J. A. White of Augusta,

39
Mont., in 1898. For 16-foot logs, Graves ( 86 ) gives Wisconsin State Rule
the following values:
Corwin ( 62 ) mentions this rule but gives no in-
formation except for the board foot scale of a few
selected log sizes. Graves ( 8 6 ) mentions the
References--47, 86. Wisconsin State Rule and presents a table which,
according to the revised Wisconsin statute of 1901
is to be used in scaling logs. The values in the
Wilcox Rule table are identical to those of the Scribner Deci-
mal C Rule.
This Pennsylvania rule is obscure in origin. It References--62, 86.
is labeled as a diagram rule by some, but Ross
( 164 ) says it is a mill scale rule for softwood tim-
ber. It has a saw kerf allowance of 3/8 inch and Younglove Rule
gives low and irregular values.
McKenzie’s formula is, This rule was devised in 1840 by Tyler
Younglove, a carpenter, of Fitchburg, Mass. It is
supposed to have been derived from diagrams and
mill tallies and is said to give results similar to
those of the Baxter, Massachusetts, or Margolin
References--47, 86, 134, 164.
Rules. Cook ( 58 ) states that diameter measure-
ments are to be made outside bark at a point one-
third of the length of the log from the small end or
Wilson Rule inside bark at the middle. Colton ( 56 ) claimed that
the “best” results were obtained by measuring
This rule was devised in 1825 by Clark Wilson, diameter outside bark at the small end of the log.
a mathematician of Swanzey, N.H. The rule ignores For 12-foot logs with diameter measured inside
taper and assumes the production of 7/8-inch bark at the middle of the log, Cook ( 58 ) gives the
boards. Chapman ( 47 ) mentions that the rule was following values:
used by E. A. Parks for 1-inch boards, which re-
sulted in a lawsuit. Chapman claims that it is
probably the first authentic formula log rule for
board feet, but Ross ( 164 ) and others list it as a
For 16-foot logs, the values of the rule can be
diagram rule and McKenzie’s ( 134 ) comment about
approximated by the formula,
the original values being erratic would seem to
support this view. At any rate, the values are said
to be higher than those of the International 1/4-
Inch Kerf Rule for logs up through 16 feet in length,
but lower than International for longer logs. References--56, 58, 86, 88.
McKenzie ( 134 ) gave the following formula for
the Wilson Rule:

References--4, 47, 48, 86, 134, 164.

Winder Rule --See the Vermont Rule.

Windsor Rule --No information. Possibly a

corruption of Winder.

40
 SECTION II

SOME VOLUME FORMULAE, LUMBER MEASURES, AND FOREIGN LOG RULES

Adams Table If cross sectional areas (B) in square feet are used
in place of diameters, the formula is:
This is a volume table used on the North
Island of New Zealand. It gives volumes based
on the Brereton Rule but the diameter is meas-
ured inside bark at the middle of the log rather
than being the average of the two end diameters. References--47, 86.
Reference--76.

British Customs String Measure --See Hoppus

Albany Board Measurement.

When Albany, N. Y., was an important lumber

marketing center, a standard unit of measure was British Measure --See Hoppus Measurement.
the Albany Board. This was a piece 1 inch thick,
10 inches wide, and 13 feet long. Much of the tim-
ber for the Albany market came from the Adiron- Burtons Scale --See Hoppus Measurement.
dack region and it is interesting to note that the
length of the Albany Board is the same as that of
the Adirondack Standard log. Burts Quarter Girth --See Hoppus Measurement.
Reference--16.

Calliper Measurement --See Hoppus

Bangor Board Measurement.

Most of the timber cut in Maine was marketed

in Bangor where the unit of measure for lumber Canterbury Tables
was the Bangor Board. This was a board 1 inch
thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 feet long. Most Canterbury sawmillers in New Zealand
Reference--16. use the Goss or Canterbury Tables for calculating
log volume. The values are based on the Square of
Three-Fourths Rule.
Breyman’s Formula Reference--76.

This is a mensurational formula for the cubic

volume of a log which requires measurement of Christiana Standard
diameter at four points; the small end of the log
(D O ), one-third of the length (D 1/3 ), two-thirds An obsolete lumber measure; 120 pieces of
----------- ------------------- 1-1/4 inch by 9 inch by 11 feet. Equal to 103-1/8
of the length (D 2/3 ), and the large end(D 1 ). Then, cubic feet.
------------------ -----------
if diameters are measured in inches, Reference--107.

41
 Cord In all of the above rules, diameter and length are
both measured in meters.
A measure commonly used in North America, References--36, 107.
primarily for pulpwood and fuelwood. It is a pile
4 by 4 by 8 feet equal to 128 cubic feet of wood and
space. There have been some variations in the Cubage au cinquiéme --See Cubage au réel.
size of the pile. In the New Brunswick Fuelwood
Act of 1848 a pile 8 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet 4 inches
was specified ( 162 ). The “French Cord” men- Cubage au quart --See Cubage au réel.
tioned by Kellog ( 111 ) is another local form.
References--111, 162.
Cubage au sixiéme --See Cubage au réel.

Cubage au réel
Cubic Metre Francon --See Hoppus Measurement.
Bruce ( 3 6 ) reports that in France the “true”
volume of a log in cubic meters is obtained by
measuring either diameter (D m ) or circum- Cunit
-------------
ference (C m ) at the mid-point of the log (usually
----------- In 1923 the Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada
outside bark unless the log has been peeled) and ran a contest for the most suitable name for a
applying Huber’s Formula. unit of 100 cubic feet of solid wood. The winner
was C. W. Halligan of the News Print Service
Bureau who suggested the word “Cunit.” The name
Cunit has also been used on the West Coast for
Three log rules may be used to estimate the either 100 cubic feet of sawdust or 100 cubic feet
volume of products that can be sawn from a log. of pulp chips.
All of them are metric variations on the quarter- References--l62, 184.
girth formula. Cubage au quart sans déduction
gives the volume of a squared timber cut from a
log. The timber will have waney edges above the Customs Measurement --See Hoppus
middle of the log where diameter is measured. Measurement.

Daboll’s Rule --See Hoppus Measurement.

Cubage aux sixiéme déduit gives the volume of
the squared timber with no wane but with “sappy”
Die-Square Measurement
edges.

This is a variation of the Hoppus formula, using

a divisor of 181 in place of 144. Thus,

where G is the girth in inches inside bark at the

Finally, Cubage au cinquiéme déduit gives the mid-point of the log. Die-square measurement
volume of the squared timber which for most is supposed to show the maximum cubic contents
species will have neither wane nor sap. the log can yield when squared.
Reference--143.

42
Drammen Standard Goss Table --See the Canterbury Table.

An obsolete lumber measure; 120 pieces 1-1/4 Gothenburg Standard

inches by 9 inches by 13 feet. Equal to 121-7/8
cubic feet. The most common use of this term is as a
Reference--107. measure of pitwood. In this case it is a pile of
roundwood 6 feet by 6 feet by 5 feet = 180 cubic
feet. At one time it also meant 120 pieces of sawn
Dublin Standard wood with each piece 2 inches by 9 inches by 12
feet = 180 cubic feet. The term has also been used
A softwood lumber measure used in Eire; 120 by the National Coal Board in the United Kingdom
pieces 3 inches by 9 inches by 12 feet. Equal to where it is equal to 120 solid cubic feet.
270 cubic feet. One time referred to as the Irish References--27, 107.
Standard or the London Standard .
Reference--107.
Haakon Dahl Measure

English Deal --See the Quebec Board. Duff ( 7 6 ) says that the Haakon Dahl Table,
probably the best known volume table in New
Zealand, shows the volume of logs in Haakon
Ferguson Rule --See Hoppus Measurement. Dahl Superficial feet which are the same as
Hoppus Superficial feet--i.e., Hoppus feet times
12. Jennings ( 107 ) implies that Haakon Dahl
Festmeter Measure is the same as the Francon System which
is simply Hoppus measure expressed in metric
A term used in Germany for a cubic meter of
units.
solid wood. A cubic meter of stacked wood is called
References--76, 107.
a Raummeter or Ster .

Holzmarkt Measure
Francon System --See Hoppus Measurement.
Gives cubic volume by Huber’s Formula ex-
pressed in metric units.
French Cord Reference--107.

The dimensions of the French Cord as used in

the Province of Quebec are 8-1/2 feet by 4 feet by Hoppus Measurement
4-1/4 feet. This is equal to 144.5 cubic feet.
Reference--l Il. This is a cubic volume formula used primarily
in the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and New
Zealand. The formula is:
Gefle Standard

Jennings ( 107 ) reports that this is used as a

measure of the cubic contents of imported tele-
graph poles in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. By The Girth ( G ) is ordinarily measured at the
an agreement made in 1924, a Gefle Standard was center of the log in 1/4-inch gradations. If the
reckoned to consist of 100 cubic feet because such measurement is made outside bark, the deduction
a quantity, as regards loading space, was con- for bark may be according to the following
sidered to be equivalent to one Petrograd, or schedule:
St. Petersburg standard of 165 cubic feet of
sawn timber.
Reference--107.

43
An additional 1/2 inch is deducted for each in- This is sometimes called Calliper Measure -
crease in girth of 6 inches or fraction thereof. ment . It is said to have been used to some extent
Jennings ( 107 ) reports that “tape over bark” on the British Government dockyards but was
measurement is handled by making a percentage little used in trade.
reduction in the quarter-girth according to the References--30, 47, 64, 67, 76, 86, 108, 132,
“Liverpool Conventional Allowance, ” or the per- 143, 162.
centage deduction may be applied to the calculated
volume. The size of the allowance varies between
England and Scotland and between species. Hoppus Superficial Feet

Hoppus feet times 12. Also called Quarter Girth

Superficial Feet and in New Zealand, Haakon Dahl
Superficial Feet .
References--76, 107.

Hossfeldt’s Formula

This cubic volume formula requires the meas-

urement of two diameters; one at the small end of
the log (D O ) and one at a point two-thirds of the
------------------
Brereton ( 30 ) claims that in practice a string is
passed around the middle of the log then doubled
twice and measured, giving the quarter-girth. Be-
cause of the method of measurement, the proce-
dure is sometimes called Hoppus String Measure
or Liverpool String Measure . Other names are
If cross sectional areas ( B ) in square feet are used
British Measure , Quarter Girth Formula , Square
instead of diameters, the formula is,
of Quarter Girth Formula , Burton’s Scale ,
Daboll’s Rule , and Ferguson Rule . The Francon
System or Cubic Metre Francon is simply Hoppus
Measurement expressed in metric units.
For conversion purposes a Hoppus foot is con- On butt logs, Hossfeldt’s Formula is said to
sidered equivalent to 10 board feet. The Hoppus give more accurate results than either the
formula gives 78.5 percent of the actual cubic vol- Smalian or the Huber Formula but the measure-
ume of a log. To get the “true” cubic volume a ment of diameter at the two-thirds point is some-
divisor of 113 is used in place of 144 in the what of a disadvantage.
quarter-girth formula, Belyea ( 13 ) claimed that this was a tree volume
formula and that D O is the diameter at stump height
--------------
while the second measurement is made at 1/3 of
the distance from the stump to the top of the tree.
This seems questionable.
This is known as Burt’s Quarter Girth Formula References--13, 47, 86.
after E.A.P. Burt of London. It is also called
Customs Measurement or British Customs String
Measure . Huber’s Formula
If average diameter (D a ) is used instead of quar-
---------------- Huber’s is one of the three cubic volume for-
ter-girth, the formula for “true” volume given by mulae most commonly used in forest mensuration
Burt is: research. The other two are Smalian’s and New-
ton’s, Huber’s formula requires measurement of
diameter at the mid-point of the log (D 1/2 ),

44
 small end.
Jennings ( 107 ) gives a different version of what
he refers to as Liverpool Sales Measure. He re-
Huber’s formula looks much simpler if the mid-
ports that, as an allowance for saw kerf, measure-
point cross sectional area (B 1/2 ) in square feet
ments were made in “mahogany inches” which are
is used in place of diameter. 1/8 inch longer than the standard English inch
To facilitate the measuring, special rules were
manufactured showing “mahogany inches” on one
side and English inches on the other.
This formula, like Smalian’s, is completely ac- References--27, 107.
curate if the log is in the form of a truncated
paraboloid. But, as Chapman ( 47 ) points out, if
the log is more convex and lies between a para- Liverpool String Measure --See Hoppus Measure-
boloid and a cylinder, the volume given by Huber’s ment.
formula will be too large. If the log falls between
the frustrum of a paraboloid and a cone, as many
logs do, the Huber volume will be too small. The Load
error by Huber’s formula is one-half that of
Smalian’s and opposite in sign. A term used in shipping during the 19th century.
In one test of this formula on spruce and fir A load was the space required for 50 cubic feet
logs up to 40 feet long it was found that the true of timber.
volume averaged 1.049 times as large as that Reference--162.
given by the formula
References--13, 36, 39, 47, 50, 86, 89.
London Standard --See Dublin Standard.

Irish Standard --See Dublin Standard.

Matheson’s Tables

Kohlmann’s Rule The tables in “Matheson’s Australian

Sawmiller’s Log and Timber Ready-Reckoner”
This is merely a metric form of the cubic show log volumes in quarter-girth cubic and
volume determined by Huber’s formula It is also quarter-girth superficial feet.
referred to as Kohlmann Measure. Reference--76.
Reference--107.

Mercer Tables
Liverpool Brokers Mahogany Sale Measure
These tables are used in India and Pakistan.
Brereton ( 2 7 ) reports that this was a system They show the contents in cubic feet of logs and
used in Great Britain for the measurement of hewn sawn timbers of given dimensions and also timber
mahogany and satinwood logs. Length is measured price calculations in rupees. The volume of round
to the nearest 1/2 foot. Square or rectangle tim- timber is calculated by the Quarter-girth method
bers 12 inches and over in width and thickness are (divisor of 144). The tables were compiled by
measured to the inch, fractions being discarded. L. Mercer and published in 1951 by the Manager
For smaller sizes, half inches are reckoned in of Publications, Delhi, India.
thickness only. In irregularly shaped timbers the Reference--107.
minimum side is taken as the measurement. After
the dimensions are taken according to the fore-
going System a reduction of 3 inches is made in Moore Table
both thickness and width. Tapering timbers are
measured at one-third of the length from the Duff ( 76 ) reports that this table, which shows

45
 board foot volumes by the Doyle Rule, was used Philippine Measurement
some years ago in the Ohakune district of New
Zealand. It was also known as the Ohakune Table . In the Philippine Islands logs are measured in
Reference--76. cubic meters. For logs less than 8 meters long,
the diameter is measured at the small end of the
log. On longer logs diameter is measured at the
Moulmein Timber Calculator
center, or if this is impractical, the average of
the two end diameters is used. Then,
Jennings ( 107 ) describes this as a set of tables
showing the cubical contents of logs and timbers, 2
Cubic meters = 0.000 078 54 D L
running feet per ton, number of pieces per ton,
and also timber price calculations in rupees and
where: D = log diameter in centimeters
sterling currency. The tables, which are used for
L = log length in meters.
measuring teak in Burma, were compiled by
References--47, 107.
Tsong Ah Phott of Moulmein, Burma.
Reference--107.
Pressler’s Formula

Newton’s Formula
This is a cubic foot formula for tree volume, not
a log rule. It is suitable for trees whose form ap-
This is the most accurate of the three common
proximates that of a cone or a paraboloid. Two
cubic volume formulae, but it requires measure-
measurements are required; the diameter ( D ) in
ment of diameter at the small end (D O ), mid-
---------------- inches at a point well above the influence of the
point (D 1/2 ), and large end (D 1 ) of the log.
butt swell, and the height ( H ) in feet at a point
where the diameter is one-half of D. Then,

When expressed in terms of cross sectional

areas ( B ) in square feet rather than diameters, When the cross sectional area in square feet ( B )
the formula is: is used instead of the diameter, the formula is,

Reference--13.

Newton’s formula may be used to get the volume

of a log which has the form of a frustrum of a cone,
Quarter-Girth Formula --See Hoppus
paraboloid, or a neiloid.
Measurement.
References--13, 47, 50, 86, 89.

Quarter-Girth Superficial Feet --See Hoppus

Ohakune Table --See the Moore Table.
Superficial Feet.

Petrograd Standard
Quebec Board

A lumber measure; 120 pieces of 1-1/2 inch by

This was a lumber unit 2-1/2 inches by 11 inches
11 inches by 12 feet or its equivalent. Equal to
by 12 feet. In Defebaugh ( 6 9 ) it is called the
165 cubic feet or 1980 board feet. This measure
is used mainly in the United Kingdom Russia, and Quebec or English Deal . It has also been called the
Quebec Standard ( 162 ) though this term is more
Scandinavia. It is also known as the St. Petersburg
properly applied to 100 pieces of this size.
Standard .
References--69, 162.
References--27, 107.

46
 Quebec Deal --See Quebec Board. Shichi-ku Gake Sunken Ho Log Rule (0.79 Scale)

In Japan, the basic units of measure for logs

Quebec Standard are as follows:

This is a lumber measure defined to be 100

pieces, 2-1/2 inches by 11 inches by 12 feet = Shaku = 0.303 meters = 0.994 feet =11.93 inches
229-1/6 cubic feet. The full name is Q u e b e c Sun = a tenth part of a shaku = 1.193 inches
Standard Hundred of Deals . There is also a log Koku = a unit of volume equal to 10 cubic shaku.
rule known as the Quebec Standard. In commerce, the koku is regarded
References--27, 107, 162. as equivalent to 120 board feet.

Brereton ( 3 1 ) describes the Shichi-ku Gake

Raummeter Sunken Ho Log Rule as follows: “To determine log
content in koku, multiply the square of the shortest
A German term for one cubic meter of stacked diameter inside bark at the small end of the log by
wood. The term Ster may also be used. A cubic the length in shaku, the result by 0.79 and divide by
meter of solid wood is called a Festmeter . 10. In scaling, the fractions of a sun in diameter
and the fractions of a shaku in length are disre-
garded and when computing contents, the one-
Rudorf’s Formula thousandth of a koku is ignored.”
Jennings ( 107 ) says that the Shichi-ku Gake
This cubic volume formula requires the meas- Sunken Ho Log Rule is based on Hoppus measure
urement of diameter in inches at the small end except for the use of small-end measurements
(D O ) and the large end (D 1 ) of the log. Then, in place of measurement at the mid-point of the
-------------- -------------- log. However, this does not agree with the proce-
dure given above by Brereton. Brereton’s proce-
dure in formula form is,

If the procedure is as Jennings describes it,

the formula would be
Reference--86.

St. Petersburg Standard --See Petrograd Standard.

References--31, 107, 206.

Schiffel’s Formula
Simoney’s Formula
This is an adaptation of Newton’s Formula for
total tree volume. Diameter is measured in inches This is a little-used cubic volume formula which
at stump height (D s ) and at midheight (D m ) of the requires the measurement of diameter at one-
------------- -------------- fourth (D 1/4 ), one-half (D 1/2 ), and three-fourths
tree. Tree height ( H ) is measured in feet.
(D 3/4 ) of the length of the log.

References--13, 47, 50, 86, 89.

47
 If instead of diameter in inches, we use the Standard Mine
cross sectional area in square feet ( B ), the for-
mula is: This term appears in Robinson’s ( 162 ) quotation
of an act passed in the Province of Quebec in 1843.
It was applied to staves and for “Standard” or
“Measurement” staves was defined to be one thou-
sand pieces, five and a half feet long, five inches
References--47, 86.
broad, and two inches thick For “West India” or
“Puncheon” staves the Standard Mille was defined
as one thousand two hundred pieces, three and a
Smalian’s Formula
half feet long, four inches broad, and three-fourths
of an inch thick. For “Barrel” staves the standard
Smalian’s is a cubic volume formula requiring
was one thousand two hundred pieces, two feet
the measurement of diameter at the small (D O ) and
------------ eight inches long, three and a half inches broad,
large (D 1 ) ends of the log. and three-fourths of an inch thick.
------------

Stere
Alternatively, cubic volume is calculated as the
average cross sectional area in square feet at the In France and other European countries a cubic
ends of the log times log length. meter of stacked wood is called a stere. The
This gives the correct volume if the log is in the German word for a stacked cubic meter is Raum -
form of a truncated paraboloid. If the log is more meter though they also use the term Ster .
convex and lies between a paraboloid and a cylin-
der, Smalian gives too small a volume. For logs
having slightly convex sides but not the full form String Measure --See Hoppus Measurement.
of a paraboloid, as is true of most logs, Smalian
gives too large a volume. In either case, the error
in Smalian’s Formula is twice as large as that in Toya Menka Kaisha, Ltd. Table
Huber’s and opposite in sign. By using short
lengths, 4 feet or less, the error for a 16-foot log This table shows the Haakon Dahl or Hoppus
can be kept down to 1 percent or less of the true Superficial Feet for logs of a given small-end
volume. diameter inside bark. The tabular values were
A common mistake in the application of calculated by adding different amounts to the
Smalian’s Formula is to square the average-end small-end diameter in order to approximate mid-
diameter rather than use the squares of the two point diameters. The additions were as follows:
end diameters. Then, 0.5 inch for logs up to 13 feet long, 1 inch for loge
16 to 22 feet, 1.5 inches for logs 25 to 30 feet
long, and 2 inches for logs 39 feet and longer.
The tables are used in the Bay of Plenty area
of New Zealand.
Reference--76.
This gives slightly less volume than the correct
method, but for 16-foot logs with less than 2 inches
of taper, the error is under 1 percent. Actually, Tun
this tends to offset the positive error usually as-
sociated with the use of Smalian’s Formula. Robinson ( 162 ) reports that the British, appar-
References--13, 39, 47, 50, 86, 89. ently more interested in the space occupied by
timber than in its actual weight, used the unit of
a “tun,” which had originally been the space occu-
Square of Quarter-Girth Formula --See Hoppus pied by a large cask or “tun” of wine. Later legis-
Measurement. lation specified that the “ton,” as it became known,

48
was equal to 40 cubic feet. The Oxford dictionary
refers to the use of the word “tun” in 1677, stating
that 1-3/4 “tun” equaled one “coard” The “ton”
is still used in England and India where it refers
to 50, not 40 cubic feet of wood
Jennings ( 107 ) equates a ton to 0.4 Standards
(presumably Telegraph Pole or Gefle-Standard),
or to 1.32 “loads,” or to 0.55 piled cubic fathoms
of wood or timber,
References--107. 162.

A pulpwood measure equal to 168 cubic feet of

wood and space.

York Lumber and Log Scale --No information.

49
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✩ U. S. Government Printing Office: 1974-754-554/61