58 FOREST COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. 



No. over 4 ToUniie, cu. 

 Species. , Number. in. disim. ft. (estimated) 



White birch 8-28 280 1,630 



Gray birch 12 18 



Yellow birch 288 2 85 



P.iaple 212 31 175 



Poplar 16 4 21 



Fir 105 1 25 



Spruce 50 15 



Hemlock 82 5 



Cedar G3 4 



Beech 2 1 



Pine 12 2 8 



Total 1,670 320 1,987 



Maximum development of white birch 8-9 inches diameter and 

 somewhat over fifty feet high Three or four cords of spool wood 

 might have been taken from this acre. 



No other species approached in size the white birches. The gen- 

 eral surface of the grove was about forty feet from the ground, a 

 height to wliich of the other species, only a few much crowded pop- 

 lars and some of the maples attained. 



Note further the effect of competition as seen in the number of 

 trees. The younger areas were covered with about 2200 birch 

 trees to the acre. The thirty-five year old growth had only 828, 

 showing in comparison a very strong competition among the trees. 

 Evidence of this was seen in the numerous dead stems while of 

 those standing 100-150 were under three inches in diameter and 

 evidently in process of extinction. This killing out of the smaller 

 trees partially neutralizes the growth per acre. 



The value of the observations which have been gathered in this 

 paper rests on the fact that for large areas of land they are typical. 

 It will be well, therefore, to sum up briefly the general conclusions 

 arrived at. These might be stated as follows : — 



1. Gray and white birch, poplar aud pine may be called the 

 characteristic species of burnt laud By this is meant that by 

 reason of their sprouting and seeding habits and from the fact that 

 they start rapidly in unobstructed sunlight these species are apt to 

 take possession of such lands and become the dominant growth. 

 On the other hand they seldom occir as undergrowth, and will not 

 start in a dense shade. 



