778 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



birch is smaller than on the Brandreth Lake area. The humus is deeper 

 on the upland at Brandreth, extending over the lower hills in many 

 places. This factor is closely related to the prevalence of balsam and 

 birch in the stand. The stand at Brandreth approaches the flat-land 

 type between the swamps and the upland and the maximum size of the 

 spruce trees is smaller than on the true hardwood type. No data have 

 been worked up for the true flat type, since the measurements made on 

 200 trees in the flat did not show differences great enough to warrant 

 the completion of the study of this type. The chief difference found 

 is the smaller range of sizes. 



CONDITION OF THE FOREST 



Neither area has been cut previous to the present operation for tim- 

 ber other than a probable light selection of pine for shingles at Bran- 

 dreth before the general lumbering of the Adirondacks. Pine is still 

 standing along pond and stream margins on both areas. The study was 

 restricted to virgin timber land, which alone has spruce timber of size 

 suitable for airplane stock and offers a standard condition to which cut- 

 over lands may be compared. 



The present pulp-logging operation leaves the peeled timber on the 

 ground for several months during the peeling season, and checks soon 

 develop which give an excellent opportunity for the measurement of 

 spiral. Striation is visible on the peeled timber, allowing clear defini- 

 tion of the fiber direction even before the checks develop. The season 

 checks often extend several inches into the log and destroy its value for 

 first-grade lumber. 



METHOD OF TAKING FIELD DATA 



Measurements were made at Cranberry Lake on all timber on the 

 logged area where the tops of other trees did not cover the bole. Care 

 was taken to prevent the exercise of judgment in the selection of trees 

 from interfering with general averages. Measurement of length was 

 made from the ground level to the first pin knot visible, the first half- 

 inch knot, the first inch knot, the top of the dead-knot zone at the base 

 of the live crown, and total height. If the first pin knot was not fol- 

 lowed within 2 feet by another, the first was ignored. Stray live limbs 

 were not taken as the base of the live crown. Diameter at breast height 

 inside of bark, per cent of decay on the stump, and the presence of 

 pitch pockets and pitch seams were also recorded. Spiral was meas- 

 ured at the middle of the first log and recorded as straight, straighter 



