FOREST COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. 59 



2. Starting up in this way these species are quite frequently in 

 pure or nearly pure growths — which fact renders their product easier 

 to market and of more value. 



3. Spruce, fir. hemlock and other species characteristic of our 

 old-growth forests, even though sown with the before-mentioned 

 species, are generally distanced in competition. They remain as 

 undergrowth however, and some of them, being long-lived and 

 hardy, will generally outlast the other species. Then since they 

 propagate freely in a shade, they retain possession of the ground. 

 How long it will take to replace t'le earlier growth depends on the 

 species. Probably one hundred years is old age for our birch and 

 poplar, so that by that time they will considerably give way. Fine 

 on the other hand lives to be several hundred years of age, and if 

 uncut will long maintain a dominant position on the ground. 



As to the age after fire at which trees may be cut, the following 

 statements will prove in general approximately true. 



Birch and poplar groves at thirty years of age have some trees 

 that may be utilized. A large crop might be reaped at fifty 

 years of age. At seventy to eighty such growth begins to go back 

 in quality. 



Fine standing in open growth may be utilized for saw logs in 

 forty to fifty years. Close to market it might even furnish box 

 boards profitably at thirty years of age. All such lumber, how- 

 ever, is coarse and rough Good quality timber is only to be grown 

 in thick growths, and it will take at least seventy or eighty years 

 to produce it. 



White spruce growing up in very favorable situations approaches 

 the growth of pine. In general, however, and in the case of black 

 spruce a valuable crop of saw logs need not be expected under 150 

 years at least. Hemlock would doubtless take much longer to come 

 to large size. 



Without an exploration of the whole State a certain prediction 



can hardly be made ; but it certainly seems probable that as our 



forests are better cared for and fires more thoroughly checked, 



birch and poplar wood, if uses for them continue, will be in demand 

 and of more value. As to our future supply of pine this investiga- 

 tion gives considerable light. It is to come not from the great 

 unbroken forests of the State, the permanent forest areas that 

 escape fires and close cutting. It is to be looked for rather from 

 the confines of civilization, from farm lands and the nearer timber 

 lands, where on burnt, cleared or abandoned areas the conditions 

 of its growth are supplied. 



