16 



N. H. Agri. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 298 



Except for small areas, usually difficult to get at, there is very little 

 first quality lumber in the town. The types of growth are not uni- 

 form over any large territory, and the complex pattern of the many 

 small type areas makes accurate appraisal of the future possibilities 

 difficult. There is a vast amount of Vv^orthless growth along with that 

 which under management would develop good saw timber. 

 The Potential Timber Supply 



The supply of timber available from this area in the distant future, 

 of course, depends on the type of management in the near future, but 

 the present condition of growth determines largely the situation in the 

 next two decades. The annual growth at present was estimated at 155 

 boardfeet per acre, but only 77 boardfeet would be suitable for lum- 

 ber.' This, of course, is very low as compared to the possibilities under 

 good management. 



AGE 



ISO 



AGE CLASS OF WOODlANI)# 



o I 



Z 3 4 S e 7 a ^ lO II II 13 14 IS l£ 17 18 19 20 » 2Z 2^ 24 

 THOUv#AND# or y^CtEJ" 



Fig. 2. The distribution of woodland by age classes in 1932 indicates a large 

 proportionate acreage of 100 year old and 30 year old classes. However, the 

 distribution of age groups would make a fairly good foundation on which 



good management could build. 



' ' In spite of the present condition of the timber of the town 

 under no definite management policy, the manner of cutting 



^ Since 1932 many acres of timberland have been stripped for pulpwood 

 and the potential development of timber resources has been checked. Hard- 

 pi'essed corporations and individuals have had to market their timber re- 

 gardless of the effect on future resources. It is estimated that the equiva- 

 lent of 15,000,000 boardfeet were cut in Dorchester in the three-year period 

 1933, 1934, and 1935. 



