44 SECOND-GROWTH HARDWOODS IN" CONNECTICUT. 



PART IV.— MANAGEMENT. 



Under management are included the various methods of handling 

 woodlands by which it is sought to secure, in comparison with unman- 

 aged forests, either greater returns in the same number of years or the 

 same return in less time. 



The essential factors in the management of second-growth stands 

 are: (1) species: (2) the rotation, or the number of years through which 

 the stand should be allowed to grow; (3) thinnings, to increase the 

 yield and improve the quality of the stand; (4) the final cutting, to 

 secure immediate, complete, and satisfactory natural reproduction; 

 (5) methods of changing the composition of a stand from one species 

 or set of species to another of greater value; (6) the regeneration of 

 worn-out sprout woods by introducing healthy seedlings; and (7) pro- 

 tection. 



CHOICE OF SPECIES. 



The owner of natural woodland is allowed no choice of the species 

 with which to begin management but must do the best he can with 

 those which predominate in the stand. In the process of management, 

 however, it is possible to alter radically the composition of the stand by 

 judicious thinnings and the methods described under the heading, 

 "Changing the type." Whether a species is suitable or not depends 

 upon its relative thrift under the prevailing soil conditions; its 

 security against disease, insect attack, etc.; the market for it; its 

 rate of growth; and the possibility of introducing it by silvicultural 

 means. 



Chestnut, because of its rapid growth and the good market open to 

 it, would be by far the best species to favor in suitable situations, 

 were it not for its susceptibility to the chestnut-bark disease. This 

 disease, if unchecked, promises entirely to wipe out the chestnut from 

 at least a large part of the State, and for this reason management of 

 the species is at best a hazardous undertaking. In cuttings it will 

 often be necessary, therefore, to restrict its reproduction as much as 

 possible, and to favor that of oaks or other species not subject to the 

 disease. The methods by which this may be accomplished are dis- 

 cussed on page 56. 



The " black oaks" — including black or "yellow" oak, red oak, and 

 scarlet oak — are not in great demand for ties or poles, owing to their 

 lack of durability in contact with the soil, and an excellent market is 

 thus practically closed to them. They are, however, well adapted to 

 certain situations, are rapid growers, and would produce excellent 

 yields under proper management. Red oak, especially, does exceed- 

 ingly well on good chestnut soils, where its growth is often nearly equal 



