Reccjvery of Sitka spruce second-grovrth is being accOTiplished slowly. The 

 dead leaders have fallen from 84 percent of the trees which suffered top 

 kill and a struggle for new leader formation is now in progress. Clusters 

 of bud growth, as many as 12 or more biods, have formed at the tops of most 

 of the trees which suffered top kill. Nineteen percent of the trees con- 

 tain clusters of new growth in which no apparent leader, either single or 

 double, has developed. Thirty-nine percent of the trees contained one 

 shoot which is dominating all others, and 42 percent of the trees contain 

 two competing shoots from the cliister. It remains to be determined if 

 this leader canpetition will resvG-t in permanent tree deformity. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT 

 SilvicTjltural Studies 



Studies continued on the first large area clearcut for pulpwood on the 

 Maybeso Experimental Forest at Hollis, Methods for getting good regenera- 

 tion, involving basic information on seedbeds and soils, site factors 

 affecting regeneration and the treatment of cutover areas, are still of 

 first importance. 



Residual trees 



Estimates obtained by mapping indicated that a considerable number of 

 residual trees remain on cutover areas in Maybeso Valley, Very few exist 

 where high-lead yarding occiirred, but numero\as pole-sized hemlock remain 

 on tractor yarded areas (fig. 5). 



Prior to logging most of these trees were suppressed. They were slow grow- 

 ing, of poor form, and had sparse crowns. During felling and yarding 

 operations they were frequently damaged and basal scars and broken tops are 

 often observed. 



In an effort to provide a guide for handling these residuals, 96 trees on 

 a 10-acre tractor-yarded unit were selected for study. It was found that 

 most residuals are pole-sized hemlock, formerly suppressed, but with an 

 occasional tree as large as 16 inches in diameter. The average diameter was 

 9 inches. Almost a fourth had dense crowns and might become seed producers. 

 Fifty-nine percent of the sample trees had been damaged in logging and 29 

 percent had other defect. Between these two forms of defect 75 percent of 

 the trees were affected. 



An annual record will include an estimate of cone crop size, mortality by 

 cause, and evidence of decay in basal and bole scars incurred in logging, 

 A coD^slete retally of all the 1955 measurements and estimates, plus a 

 replication of photographs, will be made 5 years s\±>sequent to logging 

 (1959). In addition, increment borings will be made to determine radial 

 growth before and after logging, and year of any marked increase in 

 increment due to release. 



16 - 



