F-474969 



Figure 12. — Hardwood for- 

 est types now cover half 

 of the commercial forest 

 land, including a large 

 acreage that was originally 

 covered with softwoods. 



One of the major problems in these hardwood types 

 is how to raise the quality of the growing stock. 

 Heavy cutting of the old-growth stands often was fol- 

 lowed by an adequate stand of well-formed saplings 

 that had been part of the understory. However, sec- 

 ond-growth stands frequently do not have such an 

 understory; heavy cutting often is followed by an un- 

 desirable sprout or shrub growth. 



Over the years, softwoods have been cut far more 

 heavily than hardwoods. The hardwood invasion of 

 softwood forests is already far advanced, and the hard- 

 wood type area is still increasing. This raises the im- 

 portant problem of how to select the proper species to 



favor in managing the present forests. Efforts to grow 

 softwoods may prove futile in some areas; efforts to 

 grow high-quality hardwoods may be wasted in others. 

 More information on the relation of cover types to 

 sites is needed. 



Timber Voluyne 



New Hampshire's commercial forest land in 1948 

 supported a growing stock of 3.8 bilHon cubic feet 

 divided almost equally between softwoods and hard- 

 woods. In 1952, growing stock amounted to 4.5 bil- 

 lion cubic feet. Hardwoods have accounted for most 



Forest Resources of New Hampshire 



15 



