ap.1,1927 Natural Replacement of Blight-Killed Chestnut 647 
Stand records, obtained in company with T. E. Shaw, of the State 
Forest School in the Mont Alto Forest in Franklin County, show 
that on slopes where the chestnut had occupied 40 per cent or more 
of the original stand seedlings and sprouts of other species varied 
from 1,000 to 1,500 per acre. Of these, chestnut oak comprised 60 
per cent, black oak 35 per cent, and white oak 4 per cent. Scattered 
red and scarlet oaks, white and pitch pines, and black locusts made 
up the remainder. Here the oaks, which in the original stand were 
second in number to the chestnut, have insured adequately stocked 
stands of second growth. Chestnut oak, pitch pine, and black locust 
(Robinia pseudoacacia) are also among the desirable species which 
are largely replacing the chestnut in Pennsylvania. Black oak, 
pignut hickory, sweet birch, mountain pine (Pinus pungens), and 
Virginia pine (P. virginiana) are others which are helping to fill 
the gaps, and are not to be despised (//). 
The Pennsylvania studies also showed that the blighted areas are 
being restocked by natural reproduction, mostly of desirable species. 
The replacement is more complete and more satisfactory in moist 
situations than upon the drier slopes, for blanks on the moist sites 
are relatively less extensive and the associated species, such as yellow 
poplar, white ash, red oak, white pine, red maple, and white oak, 
more desirable. Upon the drier slopes the blanks are more extensive, 
and the associated species are less desirable. 
SUMMARY 
This paper presents the results of studies to determine the character 
and amount of natural replacement of blight-killed chestnut. They 
were begun in the earlier infected chestnut stands of the Northeast, 
where natural replacement is most advanced and could most easily 
be studied. ' 
In southern Connecticut permanent sample plots established 
between 1904 and 1910, as well as temporary plots, were studied. 
In New Jersey it was necessary to resort wholly to temporary plots. 
Limited studies were also made in Pennsylvania. i 
The natural replacement of the forests, originally containing large 
quantities of chestnut, by stands running very largely to oak—red 
oak, white oak, chestnut oak, black oak, or scarlet oak—is strikingly 
brought out by these studies. An outstanding feature is the in- 
crease of red oak and chestnut oak both in number of trees and 
basal area. Such other desirable species as hickory, white ash, sugar 
maple, and sweet birch may be associated with the oak. 
While the stands are for the most part still depleted in basal area 
they are recovering satisfactorily. From the standpoint of crown 
closure the areas studied also showed exceptionally good recovery. 
The stand remaining after the death of the chestnut, composed chiefly 
of oaks, has responded to increased light, and the crowns of these 
trees are very effectively closing the smaller openings left by the 
chestnut. 
