FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
WAYNE NF (REGION 9)
NELSONVILLE, OHIO
FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – PRINCIPLES OF MEASURING TREES
Supplement No.: R9 Wayne 2409.12-2016-4
Effective Date:
05/01/2016
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved:
ANTHONY V. SCARDINA
Forest Supervisor
Date Approved: 04/27/2016
Posting Instructions: Supplements are consecutively numbered in accordance to Handbook
number and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with
this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document.
New Document
R9 Wayne 2409.12-2016-4
Superseded Document(s)
(Supplement Number and
Effective Date)
none
2 Pages
N/A
Digest: In order by code, summarize the main additions, revisions, or removal of direction
incorporated in this supplement.
12 - Designates minimum merchantability standards
14.11a – Set check diameter
R9 Wayne 2409.12-2016-4
EFFECTIVE DATE: 05/01/2016
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
2409.12_10
Page 2 of 2
FSH 2409.12 - TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 – PRINCIPLES OF MEASURING TREES
12 – TREE MERCHANTABILITY SPECIFICATIONS.
The merchantability standards in the following table will apply to all timber sold or otherwise
disposed of on the Wayne National Forest.
Species
Product
Diameter
Breast
High
(DBH)
Number
of
Minimum
Pieces per
Tree
Length
(feet) 1/
Diameter
Inside
Bark at
Small End
Net Measure in
% of Gross
Measure
40%
40%
Hardwood
Sawtimber
(inches)
12.0
1
8
(inches)
11.0
Softwood
Sawtimber
11.0
1
8
9.6
Hardwood
Pulpwood 2/
6.0
1
12
4.0
Softwood
Pulpwood 2/
5.0
1
12
4.0
70 % sound 3/ &
reasonably
straight 4/
70 % sound 3/ &
reasonably
straight 4/
1/ A tree must have at least one piece that meets minimum length specifications.
2/ Maximum pulpwood diameters may be extended into sawtimber sized products in
consultation with the Forest Sales Forester. Softwood would typically be considered
pulpwood from 5.0-10.9” DBH. For example, White Pine could be considered pulp from
5.0-24.0” DBH.
3/ 70 percent applies to rot, voids, and char. Mechanical type defects, such as sweep, crook,
spider heart and ring shake shall not be considered.
4/ Reasonable straight: To be considered reasonably straight, pulp sticks must slide through
an 8-foot-long, 24-inch-diameter cylinder. When the true centerline of a minimum length
piece does not deviate more than one half the inside diameter of the small end, plus 2
inches from a straight line drawn between the centers of the ends of the piece it is to be
considered reasonably straight.
14.11a – Recording Diameter of Measure Trees (Tally Tree).
Diameter measurements taken on measure trees for the purpose of volume estimations will be
measured and recorded to the nearest tenth of an inch. A margin of error of + or – 2 tenths of an
inch will be granted before a measurement error is assessed against the cruiser.