State Board of Forestry. 73 



Scarlet Oak. — The average annual growth rate of this species 

 is .15 of an inch. The growth is uniform and rapid from the 

 tenth to the eightieth years. Its profitable increase continues far 

 beyond this period, although even its approximate limit cannot be 

 given from the data in hand. Tlio taper is 1.4 inches for each 

 ten feet. 



Chestnut Oak. — This species shows an average annual diameter 

 increase of .14 of an inch. The most rapid growth is from the 

 tenth to the seventieth years. Growth ceases to bi^ profitable at 

 approximately one hundred years. The taper is l.G inches for 

 each ten feet. 



Red Oak. — The average annual growth rate of red oak is .13 

 of an inch. The period of most rapid growth is from the tenth 

 to the sixtieth years. The specimens examined showed a period of 

 exceptionally rapid growth between the fiftieth and sixtieth years. 

 Profitable growth ceases at approximately one hundred and twenty 

 years. The taper is 1.8 inches for each ten feet. 



Black Oak. — This species of oak shows an average annual 

 growth rate of .16 of an inch, with the period of most rapid growth 

 betw^een the twentieth and seventieth years. Profitable increase 

 apparently ceases at about one hundred years. The taper is 1.6 

 inches for each ten feet. 



White Elm. — The white elm shows an average annual growi;h 

 rate of .16 of an inch. The time of most rapid and uniform growth 

 is from the tenth to the fiftieth years. After the fiftieth year 

 growth is extremely slow. The taper is 2.4 inches for each ten 

 feet. 



It was assumed that to reach a height of four and one-half feet 

 would require five years, so that in each case five was added to the 

 number of rings counted. Great care was used to avoid including 

 the so-called "false rings" in the count and as such rings are fairly 

 easily recognized it is believed that this source of error has been 

 eliminated. In cases where the rings were very narrow and not 

 sharply distinct, they were brought out by using phloroglucin and 

 sulphuric acid. Finally, as each disk had its number and datum 

 sheet, it was a simple matter to check back in cases where the 

 measurements seemed doubtful. The curves of growth are not 

 included in this report, because few persons have had sufficient 

 practice to interpret them correctly. Both the disks and these 



