REFORESTING CUT-OVER CHESTNUT LANDS. 

 By E. C. M. Richards. 



A large percentage of timber found in the forests near New 

 York City — in Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and South- 

 ern New York — is chestnut. Most of this is still too small to 

 be cut if the maximum value is to be obtained from it, and the 

 best management would, under normal conditions, advise thin- 

 ning and postponement of cutting for ten to thirty years. The 

 advent of the Chestnut Blight has, however, made severe damage 

 cuttings necessary over much of this area, and with it a new forest 

 problem has presented itself. What shall be done with the cut- 

 over chestnut timberlands in the blight-infected section of the 

 country? This is a question of importance and it is the purpose 

 of this' article to discuss it and if possible, to render some service 

 towards arriving at- an effective answer. 



There are several points which need to be considered before 

 taking up any general conclusions as to the treatment of cut- 

 over chestnut lands. Among them are the following: What will 

 result if the chestnut sprouts are allowed to grow unmolested? 

 What is to be found in the way of reproduction of species, other 

 than chestnut — oak, hickory, etc. — on the cut-over lands? What 

 will be the result if the cut-over lands are left untouched after 

 the removal of the chestnut? When these questions have been 

 answered then some general conclusions may be reached in re- 

 gard to the proper treatment of land now producing chestnut. 



In order to secure accurate information concerning cut-over 

 chestnut lands, a study was made of the conditions found on 

 such areas in northern New Jersey. The method of procedure 

 in this study was as follows : Sample plots were taken on all 

 qualities of soil where 



First: The chestnut had just been cut. 



Second: The chestnut had been cut six months before (con- 

 taining one year's growth). 

 Third : The chestnut had been removed seven years before. 



On these sample plots the number, size and species of every 



