Reforesting Cut-Over Chestnut Lands. 207 



blight and over 65% were dead. On no plot was a chestnut 

 sprout or seedHng found, that exceeded three inches in diameter, 

 which was not badly infected by the blight. In fact the con- 

 clusion reached after the study had been completed is that only 

 for a year or, at the most, two, are the sprouts and seedlings free 

 from the disease. There is little or no reason to hope for se- 

 curing an uninfected forest of chestnut, either sprouts or seed- 

 lings, as long as the blight continues to remain as virulent as it is 

 to-day. 



The second question inquired into the number, variety and 

 vigor of the reproduction of other species occurring on the cut- 

 over lands. In answering this, it seems best to consider each type 

 individually, for in passing from one to another the differences 

 of composition are strongly marked. 



On the Hilltop Type the percentages of each species present 

 (chestnut excepted) show, a very marked favoritism for Rock 

 Oak, 44% of the reproduction being of this species. This of 

 course is to be expected from the prevalence of mature seed 

 trees of this species which had been left standing. As to the other 

 species, it was found that 11.8% was Pignut Hickory — Hicoria 

 glabra; 6.8% Red Oak, Quercus rubra, and 3% White Ash, 

 Fraxinus Americana. These were the most valuable of the 

 species found and they comprised a total of 65.6% of the re- 

 production. The remainder, 34.4%, mor€ than one-third of the 

 total stand, was made up of Red Maple, Acer rubrum, Cherry, 

 Butternut, Birch and Sassafras, all trees of little or no value. 



On the Slope Type, the Rock Oak was present in large num- 

 bers but the more favorable site caused it to be somewhat re- 

 placed by other species. Only 22% of the reproduction was 

 Rock Oak, while the total percentage of Maple, Cherry and 

 "others" was 62. This brings out a fact which is of great im- 

 portance in connection with the regeneration of these forest 

 lands. In passing from the poorest type, the Hilltop, to types 

 occupying the better sites, a decrease in the percentage of Rock 

 Oak is evident. But the loss is made up entirely by inferior 

 species — Cherry, Maple, Butternut, etc. — the better species even 

 losing ground. The remainder 16%, was Red Oak, 6%, and 

 Pignut Hickory, 10%. Adding these to the Rock Oak a total of 

 38% is obtained which represents the whole of the reproduction 

 present of desirable species. 



