32 FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 



undergrowth and sapling timber are restricted; but more gener- 

 ally the mature trees are in the minority, and are scattered 

 about, standing 10 to 20 per acre, and the greater part of the 

 ground is occupied by young trees, small saplings, and bushy 

 or withy beginners. The undergrowth is generally composed 

 of the young forest trees, and distinct kinds or species perform- 

 ing this function are few, often wanting. All kinds of haxd- 

 woods reproduce actively as is well illustrated in numerous 

 windfalls and abandoned clearings, where dense thickets of 

 mixed hardwoods occupy every foot of the ground. Abund- 

 ance of seed and ability to stand shade enable the maple to pre- 

 dominate among the young growth even where it holds but 

 third rank and less as a timber tree. Conspicuous among the 

 young growth, without ever attaining the size of log timber, 

 are the blue beeoh, bush or striped maple, and, somewhat less 

 abundant, the hop hornbeam. As a common underbrush 

 proper, on both loam and sandy soils, can be mentioned only 

 the hazel. The dogwood (cornel) and wild red (pin) cherry 

 are much less abimdant; the latter becoming really conspicu- 

 ous only on the burned lands. The wiUows are quite abundant 

 as scattering brushwood in open places, and occur on the dry 

 sandy soUs as well as on clay lands. Alder replaces the large 

 willows along many of the streams and in some swamps. It is 

 never more than a bush, but as such forms characteristic alder 

 brakes. 



The scrubby hardwoods of the openings consist almost exclu- 

 sively of oaks. A variety of both white and red oaks (partic- 

 ularly bur, white, and red oaks) grow here into bushy dwarfs, 

 15 to 25 feet high, 4 to 12 inches in diameter and branching 

 out almost from] their very base. These scrub oaks occasionally 

 form thickets but generally stand too far apart to prevent a 

 ground-cover of grass and weeds. 



Since the hardwood forest occupies the better soUs, its area 

 will necessarily continue to be diminished as the coimtry is set- 

 tled, and the present supply of timber will be reduced at a rate 

 quite independent of hardwood lumbering. Nevertheless, the 



