THE CUT-OVER WOODLAND THICKET 207 



Study 28. The Cut-over Woodland Thicket 



A patch of woodland that has been cut over rather closely, 

 and left for some years untouched, should be selected for this 

 study. Only the more typical portions will show the phe- 

 nomena this study is intended to illustrate. The invading 

 population of the roadways and more open places may be 

 passed by. 



The program of work will consist of: 



1 . A brief examination of a bit of natural uncut woodland, 

 especially with a view to noting the condition and size of the 

 plants of the undergrowth when a forest cover is present ; this 

 to serve merely as a basis for comparison. 



2. A more detailed examination of the cut-over thicket, 

 as to its constituent woody plants, their size and condition as 

 indicating the nature of the struggle for existence between 

 them, and the progress of forest restoration. 



The record of this study may consist of: 



1 . A diagram of a vertical section of a typical portion of 

 the thicket, including tree-remnants, sprouting stumps, and 

 shrubs, large and small, of the commoner sorts, in their 

 proper relations. Possibly the growth may be such that a 

 sprout thicket and a bush thicket may be better shown 

 separately (Bramble thickets, being the special subject of 

 Study No. 44, may be omitted here). 



2. An annotated list of the woody components of .the 

 thicket. The notes should include, besides name (which 

 instructor will furnish if needed), kind of plant (tree, shrub 

 or vine), growth-habit (erect, spreading, climbing, etc.), 

 reproductive method (sprouts from stumps or from the 

 ground, stolons, etc.), average present size and condition, 

 relative abundance, with special indications of the valuable 

 tree species present, and remarks on the chances of restora- 

 tion of valuable woodland. 



