70 



probably the leading operator in the town, cutting from 500 to 

 1,000 M board feet per year. Pine is cut almost entirely, there 

 being very little chestnut of merchantable size. 



' Chestnut greatly predominating. 



' Hardwoods are largely red maple and birch. 



Sterling. 



The majority of the timber in Sterling is in excellent con- 

 dition and growing rapidly, with the exception of the blight- 

 infested chestnuts. Pine, pine and chestnut, pure chestnut, 

 chestnut sprout growth, gray birch and birch and pine are the 

 types most often found. The amounts of soft maple and other 

 mixed hardwoods are very small when compared with these other 

 types. Size classes range from reproduction to size 1, this latter 

 being found only in small scattered lots. Pure pine and pine 

 and chestnut are the trees generally found in such size classes. 



The wooded portion covers about 50 per cent, of the town's 

 area. The percentage of open country is much greater iri the 

 eastern two-thirds of the town, but in the west and northwest 



