66 The Ruffed Grouse 



(Carex), strawberry, sheep sorrel, everlasting, asters, cinquefoil, 

 buttercups, clovers, violets, and barren strawberry. 



Slashings : Woodlands that have been lumbered in recent years by 

 the clear-cutting method serve substantially the same purpose for 

 grouse as do the overgrown-land types. These differ from over- 

 gi-own land basically in origin, in that there is a regenerating woody 

 plant association rather than a new seeding of woody plants in an 

 herbaceous association. This results in a large proportion ( except in 

 coniferous stands ) of coppice growth and a relatively small propor- 

 tion of seedling plants. The species in a slashing association also 

 normally vary widely from the overgrown-land groups. Both the 

 woody species and herbaceous species in a slashing are to a consid- 

 erable degree those that were present in the woodland before cut- 

 ting. There are fewer shrubs and more tree saplings than in 

 overgrown land. The newly seeded species often are quite different 

 too. The use of fire in disposing of brush following the cutting fre- 

 quently brings in a thick stand of Rubus, pin cherry, or other species 

 that germinate well after burning. On the other hand, slashings have 

 fewer of pioneer woody plants, grasses and field herbs than does 

 overgrown land. 



The prime characteristic of the slashing, therefore, is that it is a 

 woody plant association with few, if any, trees. A woodland set back 

 in its plant succession, the few trees that may remain are usually old 

 gnarled stubs that were not worth taking out for wood products. 

 Another characteristic of many slashings for a few years after cut- 

 ting, is the presence of dead brush— the tops of the cut trees. This 

 often results in a tangle of stumps, brush, and tree tops that furnishes 

 very desirable shelter. 



Slashings seem to be divided into two types, from the point of 

 view of grouse use, primarily on the basis of age (see Plate 10). One 

 we may call the briar-stage slashing, the other the sapling-stage. In 

 the first instance the slashing operation removes the trees, releases 

 many shrubs and herbs (which, however, may suffer from this re- 

 lease), and induces the germination of new species of herbs and 

 shrubs. Various species of blackberry and raspberry are usually 

 prominent in this stage, hence the term briar stage. Depending on 

 several factors, mainly the composition of the original woodland, 

 soil type, degree of burning, and aspect, this stage lasts from three 

 to ten or more years. As hardwood saplings develop, either as cop- 



