KMI'IRICAI, roRKSTKV I X T 1 1 K ADI K« )NI)ACKS ] 1 9 



Clear Cutting Hardivoods and Softtvoods 



In the true sense of the word, there has absokilely been no "clear 

 cutting" carried on in the Adirondack forest, and the nearest approach 

 to this contUlion has been in those logging operations where hardwoods 

 of small diameter, softwoods less than 4 inches on the stump, and cull 

 trees are left. Such a removal as this practically amounts to clear 

 cutting and within such delimitation, clear cutting has been and is 

 being practised in the Adirondacks. 



Su'a}nps. — In cutting swamp areas the indicated mctlidd is one of 

 clear cutting down to as small a size as is practicably feasible. Any 

 other method than this will result in a high degree of windthrow. 

 v^oftwood rei)roduction of desirable species for pulp and lumber pro- 

 duction comes in naturally, easily, and in good amount. Growth is 

 rai)id. Balsam is a dominant and will become more so in the second 

 growth swamp forest. It seems well indicated that as reproducing 

 units, the swamp areas can take care of themselves, although a consid- 

 erable assistance might be inaugurated by the girdling out of the 

 scattered cull hardwoods which occupy needed space. 



Spruce Flat. — This type contains a large per cent of birch and maple 

 in mixture with the softwood species, spruce and balsam, birch exceed- 

 ing in number all other hardwood species. The hardwoods here oflfer 

 a severer degree of competition to the softwoods and upon the removal 

 of the latter alone or in a selection cutting removing both species in 

 larger sizes only, these hardwoods will persist and by their closing of 

 the openings in the crown cover will seize and hold the site. A removal 

 (if a part of the hardwoods at the time of the removal of the softwoods 

 will undoubtedly improve the conditions of the area since it will induce 

 a better reproduction of desirable softwood species and quicken the 

 recovery of the advanced growth of spruce and balsam. In any case 

 it will be found that in the second growth forest there will be a larger 

 per cent of hardwoods which will dominate the softwood species to 

 such an extent that the ultimate harvesting of the latter may only be 

 achieved after a releascment cutting of hardwoods undertaken some 

 years in advance of the softwood cutting. 



While, as previously stated, there is no such thing as absolute clear 

 cutting api)lied in the Adirondacks today, any cutting within this type 

 of such degree of clearness as to leave only inferior sized softwoods 

 and cull hardwoods reacts very unfavorably upon any species. The 

 presence of deep humus and the fact that this dries out severelv on 



