Forest land was not classified according to site — 

 that is, its forest-producing capacity — because, ex- 

 cept for areas bearing the overcup oak-bitter pecan 

 type, nearly all land in this survey unit is intrin- 

 sically of high forest productivity and for the most 

 part is believed to have a forest-producing capacity 

 considerably above the average hardwood site in 

 the upland and mountainous parts of the South. 



Forest Conditions 



The forest was divided into eight condition classes 

 on the basis of volume, age, and cutting history. 

 They are as follows: 



Old growth — Uncut. — The original mature forest of the re- 

 gion from which less than 10 percent of the volume has been 

 cut (fig. 3). 



Partly cut. — Stands from which at least 10 percent of the 

 volume of the original old-growth forest has been removed, 

 but which are still characterized by residual old-growth 

 trees. 



Second growth - — Sawlog size, uncut. — Second-growth stands 

 that contain at least 600 board feet per acre in second-growth 

 trees of sawlog size (13 inches d. b. h. and larger) and from 



~ In each of the three second-growth conditions, residual 

 old-growth timber commonly occurs, but not in sufficient 

 quantity to characterize the area as old growth. 



which not over 10 percent of the volume in second-growth 

 sawlog-size trees has been cut. 



Sawlog size, partly cut. — Second-growth stands from which 

 more than 1 percent of the volume in second-growth saw- 

 log-size trees has been cut, but which still contain at least 

 400 board feet per acre in second-growth trees of this size 

 (fig- 4). 



Under sawlog size. — Stands characterized by second-growth 

 trees 1 inch or larger in diameter and in which the volume 

 of second-growth saw timber is insufficient to permit classi- 

 fication under the appropriate sawlog-size condition (fig. 5). 



Reproduction. — Areas of second growth not falling into any 

 of the other conditions and bearing more than 80 seedlings 

 per acre less than 1 inch d. b. h. Stands in this condition 

 may contain an occasional sapling or residual tree of sawlog 

 size. 



Clear-cut. — Forest land that does not bear sufficient forest 

 growth to be classified in one of the preceding conditions. 

 Stands in this condition, however, may contain an oc- 

 casional sapling or residual tree of sawlog size. 



Nonproductive. — Forest areas that are monopolized by a 

 forest growth of no economic value, such as buttonbush or 

 privet. 



In classifying forest lands by type and condition, 

 certain arbitrary policies were necessarily estab- 

 lished. In general, the distinction between old- 

 growth and second-growth stands has been based 

 on the growth habits of trees in the stand rather 

 than on their size. In some instances, where the 



Figure 3. — Old-growth uncut stand of the red gum-water oak type. The principal species are red gum, hackherry, bottom land red oak, and green ash 



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