Some Types of Forest Weeds. Ill 



By virtue of their ability to form part of the crown cover and 

 thus insure their hght supply, the weed trees constitute a special 

 class requiring radically difl[erent treatment. Here again, how- 

 ever, no matter how varied the kind, age, or quality of the weed 

 trees, the practical forester has but one remedy, and that remedy 

 is the ax. Figures 1-6 illustrate several types of this class of 

 forest weeds. 



In Figure 1 is seen a particularly bad example of a white 

 oak weed. This tree, with its much branched and hollow trunk, 

 is entirely worthless, except for fuel, and even for this purpose 

 it is hardly holding its own, the annual loss by decay fully off- 

 setting the gain by growth. Meanwhile it is shading to death 

 seven white pine saplings, any one of which could occupy the 

 space to excellent advantage. Ver}' evidently the proper treat- 

 ment is to fell the oak, taking care to save at least one, but better 

 several, of the pines. 



This should of course have been done manv vears ago. The 

 pines, though not more than two to four inches in diameter, are all 

 over 40 years old, their small size being entirely due to the limited 

 supply of light which was available under the huge crown of 

 the oak. 



Figure 2 shows a struggle for possession of a small opening 

 in the forest between a chestnut and a white pine, with all the 

 advantage in favor of the chestnut. In fact it is evidently but 

 a matter of time when the pine will be entirely destroyed by its 

 rival. The chestnut, like the white oak and pine, is an exceed- 

 ingly valuable forest tree. This particular specimen is, however, 

 to be regarded as a weed in that it is of inferior form and is 

 hindering the development of what is undoubtedlv a more valua- 

 able neighbor. 



Figure 3 illustrates a large black cherry standing over a 

 splendid reproduction of white pine. Anv tree shading so tine a 

 stand of young pines would necessarily be classed as a weed, 

 especially if the soil were sandy as is the case where this photo was 

 taken. The cherry being sufficiently large for logs, this "im- 

 provement cutting" should be a very profitable move whether 

 viewed from the standpoint of present returns or that of future 

 revenue. 



Figure 4 illustrates the baneful influence of an older and 

 inferior tree in a young hardwood stand. As is readilv seen, this 

 tree is itself almost wholly worthless and incapable of improve- 

 ment. Originally the reproduction of young hardwood trees, so 

 well shown in the background, obtained light equally well im- 

 mediately around this tree. The seedlings were, however, 

 gradually shaded to death and finally disappeared. A few of the 

 more hardy ones still survive, but are stunted almost or quite 



