36 WHITE PINE TYPE 



In diameter and height growth and hence volume accretion, 

 since diameter and height are to two functions of volimie, white 

 pine, red pine, white ash, aspen, and red oak are in a class by 

 themselves. All of them will attain a diameter of i8 inches and 

 a total height of over 85 feet in 100 years. Basswood almost 

 reaches this size but falls a Httle short. Of the hardwoods, 

 beech, birch, and maple, the first is the slowest growing. The 

 other two grow from 25 to 50 per cent faster. Hemlock is usually 

 the slowest growing of aU. In yield white pine leads because it 

 is at the same time a fairly rapid grower and will stand much side 

 shading. This is the reason why pure stands of red pine and 

 white ash do not yield more heavily. They are intolerant of 

 shading. Aspen has this same fault and consequently does not 

 produce so much w^od per acre in 100 years as do stands of beech,- 

 birch, and maple. 



Timber Valuation. — In the estimating of white pine lots there 

 are only two factors which tend to reduce the cost. First of aU 

 the lots are usually accessible. Suitable living accommodations 

 can often be secured within a few minutes' walk of the work. 

 Secondly, the stands are generally quite imiform in composition 

 and density since they are commonly piu-e, even aged stands. 

 However, these two favorable factors are offset by the high value 

 of the timber and the small size of the tracts. As a consequence 

 a large percentage has to be estimated. Seldom is it safe to take 

 less than 20 per cent and with small lots all the merchantable 

 timber should be measured. In fact estimating as a skilled trade 

 has reached its highest development in the white pine region. A 

 cruiser brought up in the Lake States, for example, has been so 

 thoroly grounded in the need for careful work that he can succeed 

 almost anywhere. 



Diameter limits will be the same as in the other types dis- 

 cussed. For breast-height eight inches is the smallest merchant- 

 able Ixmiber tree in softwoods and ten inches in hardwoods. The 

 top diameters usually taken are four inches for softwood lumber 

 and eight inches for hardwood lumber. Cordwood can be cut 

 from trees four inches in diameter breast-high and rim out to 

 two inches in the top end. 



