A STUDY OF REFORESTED CHESTNUT CUT-OVER LAND 613 



Stand. The shaded trees are aHve but are very badly stunted. Clean- 

 ings should have removed the chestnut sprouts several ^^ears ago. 



It is of value here to speak of the effect of the blight upon the 

 chestnut sprouts. Most of the sprouts over 2 inches in diameter were 

 badly infected or dead, although now and then one 3 inches in 

 diameter and 18 feet high was found in growing condition. There 

 was apparently little or no chance for a mature stand of chestnut. 



The reproduction of oak, hickory, ash, and other species, however, 

 gave abundant evidence of being able to mature into a good stand. 

 And right here an interesting and valuable fact introduces itself. Not 

 only in Case IV, but on the other tracts also, it was borne in upon the 

 investigator that the percentage of pine in the stand was largely in 

 the control of the forester. By using his axe to a greater or less 

 degree he should be able to secure the exact percentage he desires. 



As in the first three cases the effect of the hardwood reproduction 

 on the pine was harmful and the facts pointed to the absolute neces- 

 sity of cleaning in order to bring the pine through. Once the pine 

 attained a height of about 10 feet, and had its head above the sur- 

 rounding hardwood growth — even if only for 6 inches or so — it seemed 

 to be able to hold its own. 



Case V. — This is composed of a number of widely scattered areas 

 on the holdings of the Hartford Water Company, Hartford, Conn. 

 The climatic, soil, and rock conditions and the composition of the origi- 

 nal hardwood stand in this neighborhood varied scarcely at all from 

 the conditions found in the area mentioned in Case I\^ Three facts 

 concerning the plantations here were of special interest: 



(1) The very evident success in establishing young pine on freshly 

 cut-over land under an overwood of considerable density. To establish 

 the plantation appears to be a task of little difficulty. 



(2) The short time in which the need for liberating the pine from 

 the sprouts occurs. On areas planted directly after the logging had 

 been completed, a cleaning was found necessary within two or three 

 years. In this connection it seems best to clean early, for by so 

 doing much labor will be saved because the young sprouts are handled 

 more easily than after having reached a larger size. 



(3) The splendid growth made by the European larch and the red 

 pine. Of course all of the plantations are still young, but so far, at 

 least, it is fair to state that both of these species equaled and some- 

 times exceeded the growth which might be expected from white pine. 



Summing up the whole situation as far as the region including the 



