200 



150 - 



CO 

 1_ 



03 



CD 



LU 

 O 

 < 



100 



100 



200 



300 400 

 DIAMETER (mm) 



500 



600 



Figure 1.— Age at top of root swell over diameter (mm) at top of root swell for sugar 

 maple in the Bowl. (Not all points below 40 mm diameter are shown.) 



Applications 



The regressions reported in this 

 paper can be used for very general 

 predictions of age in old-growth 

 stands in New England. However, 

 the relation of age to size varies 

 substantially with site and past 

 history so the regressions will not 

 provide precise estimates. When 

 precise estimates are needed, 

 regression methods similar to those 

 reported in this paper apparently 

 can be used successfully, provided 

 that the stand is in a fairly stable 

 condition. 



Foresters often debate whether 

 uneven-sized stands are truly 

 uneven-aged. Recently cutover 

 stands with a mixture of species 

 show great inconsistency in the 

 relationship of age to size. However, 

 in stands that are maintained in 

 stable conditions, either through 

 consistent partial cutting or natural 

 processes, age and size gradually 

 become well correlated for each 

 species. 



3 



