YELLOW BIRCH AND ITS RELATION TO THE 
ADIRONDACK FOREST 
~ 
The importance of hardwood in the Adirondack forest 
mixture when establishing plans for management was early 
recognized by Dr. B. E. Fernow, and active steps were taken 
to bring into the Adirondack regions industries that could utilize 
the hardwoods. ‘The present ae of yellow birch was under- 
taken to better acquaint us with its relation to the future forest 
crop. While it is but one of the four important hardwoods 
found in the Adirondack forest mixture, it has been selected 
for study for reasons which demand for it first consideration in 
the judgment of those members of faculty of the College of 
Forestry who have undertaken the work: 
A complete study of the yellow birch (Betula lutea) was 
planned by the Research Committee of the College, and the work 
was started by several departments. This report covers the 
investigations of a field party of five men during the summer 
of 1919, together with some data previously collected. The 
results substantiate the previous judgment of the committee as 
to the importance of an inclusive study of this species. 
This report includes a fundamental discussion of the types 
and conditions found in the Adirondacks, and presents com- 
parative data to show the silvicultural relation of the birch to 
the other species native to the region. Since the study is a 
part of a larger work on the birch, it is all ee under the 
title ede of yellow birch. 
The conditions which give rise to the importance of the yellow 
birch are due to the complex nature of the Adirondack forest 
and the changing values in its utilization. While the birch is 
not found throughout the virgin forest, it is found in the major 
portion and the important types. With this statement in mind, 
the facts that led to the study may be enumerated, and a specific 
discussion of its relation to types presented later. 
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