A STUDY OF REFORESTED CHESTNUT CUT-OVER LAND 

 By E. C. M. Richards 



On page 204 of Vol. XII, No. 3, 1914, of the Forestry Quarterly 

 the results of a study of the problem of reforesting chestnut cut-over 

 lands were discussed in an article based upon field studies made in 

 northern New Jersey. Another article on the same subject by Pro- 

 fessor James W. Tourney was published on page 38 of Vol. IX, No. 

 1, 1914, of the Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters, 

 based upon studies made in southern New England. 



In both articles one of the recommendations was that pine be 

 planted on the cut-over areas and that ultimajtely the type be changed 

 into pure pine or pine and hardwoods mixed. Both authors agreed 

 that it would be necessary later, to cut back hardwood growth in order 

 to prevent the pine from being overtopped by it, but there was a differ- 

 ence of opinion as to the effect of chestnut sprout growth upon the pine. 

 In the first article, the conclusions reached were that the chestnut 

 blight would kill the sprouts and that therefore no work was needed 

 in freeing the pine from them, as the effect of a few years shade, while 

 the sprouts were dying, would not greatly interfere with the develop- 

 ment of' the pine. Professor Toumey, however, made no distinction 

 between the chestnut and hardwood growth as regards the need of its 

 being cut back. 



These two articles appeared over two years ago and work had 

 been done in accordance with their recommendations at that time. Be- 

 lieving that the results obtained after two years' experience would 

 be of value to the profession, a new study was made on three holdings 

 in New Jersey and on the lands of the New Haven Water Company 

 and the lands of the Hartford Water Company in Connecticut. The 

 chief questions of importance considered in connection with the re- 

 sults of these examinations are : 



(1) Will the pine establish itself readily on cut-over land? 



(2) What is the effect of the chestnut sprouts on the pine, if no 

 cleanings are made ? 



(3) If cleanings are necessary, how many of them are needed and 

 how often are they required? 



(4) What effect has the chestnut blight upon the chestnut sprouts? 

 In answering these questions each plantation is taken up separately 



and finally a general conclusion is drawn. 



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