GENERAL METHODS 695 



ized by disconnected woodlots, primarily hardwood in composition. Accordingly, four pri- 

 mary study units*, one each in the Adirondacks and Catskills and two (the Connecticut Hill 

 and Pharsalia areas) in the plateau region, were selected in order to facihtate recognition of 

 any differences in relationships which might exist. Also, from time to time, special problems 

 have been studied in other areas. The following important items were among those consid- 

 ered in choosing these areas: 



1. Representativeness — whether typical of the region in which situated 



2. Size — sufficient to yield adequate data 



3. Control — public ownership if possible 



The major study area, Connecticut Hill, is located in the plateau section of southwestern 

 Tompkins County, overlapping slightly into Schuyler County. The basic portion comprises 

 some 2,200 acres of grouse cover with many intervening tracts of open land. Formerly an 

 agricultural district, the farms have been largely abandoned during the past 30 years. In 

 consequence, the fields surrounding the woodlots are becoming overgrown with bushes and 

 small trees. The woodlands exhibit a high degree of diversification and, in spite of having 

 been extensively cut over for many years, contain a considerable admixture of conifers, 

 chiefly hemlock. The topography is shown in figure 71, and the relationship of wooded and 

 overgrown land to open land in figure 72. The cover type composition of a typical compart- 

 ment is illustrated in figure 14 ( |). 17! I. 



The Pharsalia area of some 2,100 acres lies in northrentral Chenango County along the 

 divide between the Chenango and Otselic valleys. It is quite similar to Coimecticut Hill but 

 the woodlands are somewhat more extensive and contain a number of wooded swamps. 



The Catskill area of some 850 acres is situated along the northern margin of the Catskill 

 Region in southern Albany County. Its woodlands are also broken up bv intervening fields, 

 but the latter are relatively less overgrown because most of the farms in the vicinity are still 

 operated. 



The Adirondack area is a forest tract of slightly over 800 acres lying in an upland valley 

 on the eastern slope of the Jay Mountain ridge in northeastern Essex County. A few small 

 clearings along a road which ])artiallv bounds the area constitute the only open land present. 

 Likewise the only overgrown land is found in conjunction with these clearings. The cover is 

 mixed second-growth timber, conifers being chiefly s|)ruce and balsam. The area also con- 

 tains two large alder beds. The topography of this area is shown in figure 71 and its cover 

 type composition in figure 15 (p. 173). 



Mapping 



The construction of adequate maps of the study areas constituted the next step preliminary 

 to conducting field surveys. 



Starting from an existing base, details were usually filled in by the "pace and compass" 

 method although "tape and compass" lines were often used for greater accuracy. United 

 States Geological Survey maps formed the base maps in 1930. but revisions and additions 

 were made from aerial photographs as they became available. 



The degree of detail was controlled by the requirements of the research to be conducted. 

 Wliere mere reconnaissance surveys were adequate, details were only roughly drawn in. 

 Where the actual location and amount of each cover type were desired they were mapped 



* Set figure 13, p. IH. 



