increased by proper thinnings and filling in 

 unproductive portions. 



This difference between mean annual growth 

 (for whole life of forest) and periodic growth 

 (for short period) is plainly shown in a study 

 made in spruce and balsam in Northern Xew 

 England by the Northeastern Forest Experiment 

 Station. 1 For the first 55 years of the life of 

 such a forest the mean annual growth varies 

 from .44 to .93 cords per acre according to the 

 site; while for the decade just prior to age 50 

 the growth was from 1.26 to 2.76 cords. In 

 other words the growth during this decade was 

 about three times as much as for the whole life 

 of the forest. 



REPRODUCTION 



The character of the future forest is dependent 

 upon the young growth, or reproduction, as it is 

 called. In general the reproduction in this forest 

 is satisfactory because it has been free from fire. 



In the white pine stands which have usually 

 come in on abandoned farm land, there is suc- 

 cessful reproduction of white pine, with sprouts 

 of oak and red maple. 



In the hemlock stands there is reproduction of 

 pine, hemlock, chestnut oak and red maple with 

 occasional seedlings of birch and tulip. 



In the mixed hardwood type there is satis- 

 factory reproduction of red and chestnut oak, 

 hickory, basswood, ash, beech, maple and b : rch. 

 In the vicinity of pine and hemlock there is also 

 considerable reproduction of these species. 



1 Investigative Program 1927. 

 22 





