204 



FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



rise to "forest types" or associations of forest trees, each asso- 

 ciation having a distinctive character which usually is readily 

 recognized even by persons not technically trained. To the 

 forester, these forest types are helpful in a practical way in 

 managing the forest, because for each type the same general 

 method of treatment holds good. For this reason the main 

 forest types in a region are always determined and studied in 

 order to ascertain the way in which each can best be treated. 



Fig. 67. — Logging camp. Pure spruce in the background. 



The forest of the spruce region can be classified with advantage 

 into six forest types. These six grade one into the other with 

 innumerable variations which might be considered as separate 

 subtypes, so that it may often be difficult to identify the main 

 forest type. 



Of these six types, two are of a transitory nature and owe their 

 existence to the action of fire or to the clearing of land. In other 

 words, they have come in as a result of interference with natu- 

 ral conditions. If left undisturbed, these two types (temporary 



