Most of us old stagers learned our tables by rote. eg 2x2 is 4, 3x2 is 6 etc. The length/ area was always hard as some of the measurements were out of date (even then!). However one of the lines was 22 yards = ! rod, pole or perch.
I'm sure you are right - past remembering everything. Allotments were measured by the rod but have to say that they looked longer than my lounge. But I was very young. The line has helped me on various occasions.