GROWTH OF OAK IN THE OZARK3 



FREDERICK DUNLAP 



INTRODUCTION 



The objects of this publication are to show the rate of growth 

 of the principal species of oak on certain poor soils of the Ozark 

 Region of Missouri; to furnish volume tables for use in computing 

 the volumes of standing timber; and to furnish a preliminary basis 

 for the selection of those species of timber trees best fitted for cul- 

 tivation under forestry practice in this region. 



Timber trees are selected on the basis of the growth they 

 make. To learn the productivity of any annual crop like corn, it 

 is sufficient to measure the harvest. In an orchard such simple 

 procedure is no longer sufficient. Measuring the productivity of a 

 forest is a still more complicated procedure because there is, as in 

 the orchard, a juvenile period during which no crop can be har- 

 vested and the forest lacks what the orchard has, a definite ripen- 

 ing of the crop when it must be gathered or lost. The decision 

 as to when a forest crop is ripe rests on financial rather than bio- 

 logical consideration. A given oak forest may be managed for 

 the production of either mine props, railroad ties, saw timber or 

 veneer logs; and which is the most profitable product depends on 

 market price in relation to growing period. Forest productivity 

 varies from decade to decade in the same stand and its measure- 

 ment is not a simple matter. 



This bulletin deals with one factor of forest productivity the 

 growth of the individual tree. Other factors are density of stand, 

 soil and climate. Soil and climate are usually considered together 

 and termed "site." This bulletin sets forth the results of measure- 

 ments and comparisons of the rate of growth of the four most im- 

 portant oaks of the Ozark Region of Missouri when grown under 

 identical conditions of stand and site. The species studied are 

 black oak, black jack oak, white oak and post oak and the en- 

 vironment is that which has existed in this particular locality dur- 

 ing the past two centuries. The growth is shown in detail in 

 Tables I to VIII and is shown graphically in the plates. 



Black oak and white oak attain a volume of one cord when 

 19 inches in diameter; half a cord at 14 inches and a quarter of a 

 cord at 11. inches. As between the two, black oak grows much 



4G1653 



