How to Measure Wood: Firewood Cords and Board Measure for Lumber

From The Farmer's and Mechanic's Manual, 1869

To Ascertain the Contents or Number of Cords in a Given Pile of Wood - Multiply the length by the width, and that product by the' height, which will give you the number of cubic feet. Divide that product by 128, and the quotient will be the number of cords.

A pile of wood 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high, and 8 feet long, contains 1 "cord"; and a "cord foot" is 1 foot in length of such a pile.

To Ascertain the Contents (Board Measure) of Boards, Scantling, and Plank - Multiply the breadth in inches by the thickness in inches, and that by the length in feet, and divide the product by 12, and the quotient will be the contents.