SITE DETERMINATION, CLASSIFICATION, AND APPLICATION 557 



The use of the height of a tree for the determination of site should 

 be done by using a dominant tree in the stand which is of some definite 

 age, say, 100 years. 



A resume of the foregoing indicates that any method which uses 

 in its site determinations a definite amount of land surface — as an 

 acre — is not satisfactory, since it is seldom that the wild woods are 

 fully stocked over areas of the size required in the determinations. It 

 is considered that the determination of site by the factors of growth 

 (soil, climate, etc.) is ordinarily impossible on account of the cumber- 

 someness and uncertainty of the method. It is believed that Med- 

 wiedew's method of site factors is ordinarily not advisable for wild 

 woods work. 



Finally, it has been shown that as a criterion of site the height of a 

 single dominant tree ofifers fewer objections than any of the other 

 methods proposed. The height of a dominant tree is a sensitive 

 measure of site, it is easily obtained, and it is practically the only 

 measure of site which can be used in the broken, mixed, wild woods 

 forests. 



If, then, the measure of site shall be the height of a sound, domi- 

 nant, healthy tree at a definite age, the next step in the forwarding of 

 the purpose of this article is to determine some simple, applicable 

 system of site classification. 



CLASSIFICATION OF SITES 



There are a number of salient requisites to be observed in consTruct- 

 ing a system of site classification : 



1. The classification should be adapted to the forest conditions of 

 the country. There should be no site or tree species left out. 



2. It must be arbitrary within limits. Sharp lines simply have to 

 be drawn. 



3. It must be based upon nature. 



4. It must be simple. 



In addition, the following principles should also guide : 



1. The largest figure must show the growth of the tallest tree of 

 the species ; the smallest figure must show the growth of the smallest 

 tree of commercial importance in the country. 



2. As there is a great range and gradations between the tallest and 

 the shortest trees, it naturally follows that the figures representing the 

 growth of trees other than the tallest and shortest must be arbitrarily 

 chosen. 



