52 STATE OP MICHIGAN. 



the ground, and (3) the fact that in many parts the soil is greatly exposed to 

 the drying winds and is unable to retain moisture sufficient for satisfactory tree- 

 growth. 



T7ie Stand. 

 Its History. 



This area is a portion of a large "oak opening." The original stand, consist- 

 ing of oak and hickory, was quite open, a result of very frequent fires in the early 

 days before the country was settled. The stumps of these old trees show many 

 fire-scars, indicating severe fires at various times. As the country became settled 

 these fires ceased and gradually the open places became filled with young trees. 



When the old timber was cut by the lumbermen it would appear that a very 

 large proportion of these younger trees was also destroyed. A remnant sur- 

 vived, however, and they together with the sprout growth which followed the- 

 lumbering and the culls of the original stand which were not removed at the time, 

 constitute the present stand. 



Its present condition. 



The present stand consists of three distinct age-classes, viz: (1) The scatter- 

 ing remnant of the original stand, consisting of old, crooked, unsound trees left 

 a>! worthless by the lumbermen, (2) a sprinkling of 50 to 60-year-old trees which 

 appeared with the cessation of the former fires and were not destroyed during 

 the subsequent lumbering, and (3) the sprout-growth which came from the stumps 

 of the younger trees cut or destroyed during lumbering. The ages of this last 

 class vary from five years up according to the time of the lumbering which has- 

 been carried on at various times during the last 35 or 40 years. 



The species occurring are almost exclusively oaks and mockernut hickory, with 

 aspen on several areas. Dogwood and sassafras are very common in the under- 

 growth. White oak predominates, and red and black oak occur. Hickory forms- 

 about one-tenth of the stand. 



The density of the stand varies greatly. In a few comparatively small areas 

 it is all that could be desired; on much the greater part it is open, and in many 

 places, especially on recently cut-over areas, it is very open. This is largely a. 

 result of the sheep-grazing which has been permitted in recent years, a satis- • 

 factory reproduction of timber trees being impossible under these conditions. 



It has already been stated that the rate of growth of the trees is in many parts 

 quite unsatisfactory. This is caused almost wholly by the destruction of the 

 undergrowth by the sheep. The absence of the normal undergrowth permits the- 

 wind to blow the leaves from the more exposed parts, which are the very parts 

 where they are most needed. Leaves are a natural and efficient mulch for a forest 

 soil; their absence permits the soil to dry out by direct evaporation. The absence 

 of an undergrowth permits the sunlight to reach the soil, causing the humus to- 

 be unduly oxidized, and stimulating ths growth of the grass on the forest floor. 

 The loss of humus causes a lessened moisture-holding capacity in the soil, an* 

 the growth of grass means a further drain on the depleted moisture supply. Since 

 moisture is by far the most important element in a forest soil — is indeed almost the 

 one factor that raises or lowers the producing capacity of most forest soils — it will 

 be understood how much this absence of an undergrowth means to the thrift of 

 the stand. 



Treatment. 



For the purpose of prescribing treatment, the three essentially different condi- 

 tions of stand will be discussed separately. 



1. Oak stand of all ages. 



This will serve to designate the stand which occupies fully 60 of the 80 acres- 

 and the entire southern portion of the quarter-section. Although the sprout-growth 

 varies greatly in age and density of the stand, its silvicultural condition is other- 

 wise the same throughout the area. 



Grazing should of course be discontinued at once in this as in the other stands. 



Improvement cuttings. — All the old defective trees should be removed. This 

 cutting should be made from year to year as fuel is needed, but the sooner it is 

 completed the better for the woodlot. In connection with the removal of the old 

 trees, all dogwood and sassafras shou^il ^?. ?•.■/, ?"'""h -*" ^'-l- '- ~..i*„ui„ -p„^ 



