690 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The forester studied the question of utilizing the cull hardwoods 

 during the first two years of his incumbency and came to the con- 

 clusion that they cannot be utilized in a way advantageous to the best 

 interests of the Nehasane Park Association. 



If utilization of the poor trees proves impossible, a cheap method 

 of killing them would seem the only way of eliminating their monopoly 

 of the area. As yet this has not been tried. In consideration of the 

 ultimate benefit to accrue from placing seedlings and young trees in 

 a free position, a reasonable expenditure per acre appears amply 

 justified and indeed vital to the health of the succeeding forest. 



The cost of girdling and its eflfect upon the forest has not been 

 determined. The cull trees may exert a favorable effect for a few 

 years following the second cutting as a shelter to assist the establish- 

 ment and early development of reproduction, which on a heavily 

 cleared, unshaded area with few seed trees remaining might be kept 

 out for years by berry vines or brush. Another argument against 

 starting the girdling right after the cutting is that, in certain places 

 (both on areas uncut and cut for the second time), the hardwoods, 

 particularly beech, have been dying in considerable numbers for the 

 last few years. It may be possible to save a part of the expense of 

 girdling by waiting for a period of 5 to 10 years and allowing nature 

 to assist. 



The aesthetic effect of girdling for a few years until the dead trees 

 fall to the ground will not be pleasing. 



No forest pathologist, so far as is known, has ever studied the 

 conditions in the Adirondacks for the purpose of determining the 

 necessary measures to be taken, if young crops of timber are to be 

 protected from early and serious infection from older fungi-attacked 

 trees. An investigation of this kind is necessary before methods of 

 killing or removing the cull hardwoods can be applied efifectively. 

 Such protection of the young crop is imperative if the future produc- 

 tion of the forest is to be brought to a high point. 



Criticism No. y. — A large share of the Park (about 40 per cent of the 

 land area) is heavily burned land, and nothing has been done to 

 make it productive. 



Portions of the burn are already stocked with a dense growth of 

 young hardwood, which needs no attention. The writer has seen only 

 a limited part of the burn. It is evident that certain areas need 



