YIELD TO BE EXPECTED FROM NEW ENGLAND FORESTS 411 



shallowest soils show the best growth, — see Switzerland/ for 

 example, with its annual growth of lifty-one cubic feet — ren- 

 dered possible only by the best management. 



The forest soils of New England certainly are capable of pro- 

 ducing as much per acre as those of Switzerland or Germany, 

 or in round numbers fifty cubic feet per acre annually. Such an 

 annual growth can only be secured after years of forestry work, 

 though a gradual increase over the present growth should begin 

 soon after proper treatment is started. 



While for the entire forested area of New England an annual 

 growth of fifty cubic feet per acre may be considered as fairly 

 representing the possibilities, yet on small portions a much 

 higher annual growth can be secured. Instances are frequent 

 in European practice of relatively small tracts annually produc- 

 ing from seventy-five to over one hundred cubic feet per acre. 

 Such a production indicates either that the soil is of good quahty 

 or that the forest is stocked with fast-growing species. 



The difference between stands of fast-growing and slow- 

 growing species and the effect of quality of the soil on produc- 

 tion is shown clearly by the following comparison between stands 

 of oak and spruce grown in Saxony on five qualities of soil. 



YIELD PER ACRE IN CUBIC FEET AT 100 YEARS FOR FULLY 

 STOCKED STANDS OF OAK AND SPRUCE IN SAXONY. 



This table indicates, for example, that a forest of oak would 

 produce on quahty I soil, 69.6 cubic feet per acre annually, in 



1 The soils of Switzerland are probably not as sandy or infertile as those of some 

 other regions, but on account of their elevation and shallowness are often inferior. 



