100 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



may be expected in the surrounding trees after this thinning, 

 and the seeding that should naturally follow will give more 

 trees and lumber of a better quality than could have been ob- 

 tained from the original stand without treatment. 



Other pine thinnings have been made in even-aged crowded 

 stands. In these from one-fourth to one-third of the trees were 

 removed, they being for the most part the stunted and poorest 

 ones. On one of these stands an increase in growth has already 

 been noted, and a detailed study is being made of it. Although 

 many trees were removed in thinning this area, it still has a 

 heavier growth than exists on some of the neighboring un- 

 thinned stands of similar character. The trees have been pre- 

 vented from killing each other off by over-crowding, and each 

 of the remaining trees in the stand has been given sufficient 

 light and soil moisture to favor maximum growth. Further 

 thinnings will be made on these areas as the trees grow and 

 begin to crowd each other. 



A thinning in young hardwood growth has been made, with 

 the object of increasing the number of basswood trees that will 

 come to merchantable size. Saplings of less valuable species 

 were removed wherever they were crowding the basswood. 



Another woodlot of considerable size and varying condi- 

 tions was placed under management. Here twelve acres had 

 been stripped of softwoods several years ago, and these were 

 planted to white pine this spring. Instead of waste and cut over 

 land, it is now in productive condition. 



Several demonstrations have been established with the mak- 

 ing of liberation thinnings. This consists is removing the in- 

 ferior, species that are overcrowding and killing back more 

 valuable trees. 



In stands where birch and pine were crowded together, the 

 birch was removed in order to open up the pine to light, give the 

 roots more room in the soil, and keep the tops of the pine from 

 being killed by the thrashing of the birch branches. 



Besides this several thinnings and plantings have been con- 

 ducted independently by woodlot owners, and these are under 

 observation and results will be available for later publication. 

 Advice has been given to many individuals, both verbally and 

 by letter, and assistance has been given in handling planting 

 work in various parts of the State. 



