To test Tierson's methodology under conditions in the mountains of 

 West Virginia, we made a smaller-scale study on a high-quality site near 

 Parsons, West Virginia. Here, in a well-stocked stand, we treated a dense 

 understory composed mostly of sugar maple and beech. Under such con- 

 ditions the forestry objective would call for striving to obtain a new stand 

 of such light-requiring species as yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera 

 L.), black cherry, and white ash after a clearcutting harvest. In this sit- 

 uation — frequently encountered in the northern Appalachian mountains 

 - — the desired species are usually present in the overstory, so a seed 

 source is available. 



The results of our study, although based on less work than Tierson did, 

 demonstrated the general effectiveness of using backpack mistblowers for 

 hardwood understory treatments in West Virginia. 



The Study 



In* cooperation with the Monongahela National Forest, we established 

 an understory-treatment study, employing a backpack mistblower and 

 using a herbicide mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4, 5-T. 



The study area was a 5-acre plot on the Fernow Experimental Forest 

 near Parsons, West Virginia. A 65-year-old, well-stocked stand of mixed 

 hardwoods occupied the area. Species composition was typical for a good- 

 quality site in this location: sugar maple, beech, yellow-poplar, black 

 cherry, white ash, red maple (Acer rubrum L.), northern red oak (Quer- 

 cus rubra L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacid. L.), and cucumber- 

 tree (Magnolia acuminata L.). The sawtimber-size portion of the stand 

 (trees larger than 11.0 inches d.b.h.) averaged 15,000 board feet (In- 

 ternational 1/4-inch kerf scale) to the acre. The understory comprised 

 all living stems between 1 foot tall and 5 inches d.b.h. There were about 

 11,000 of these stems per acre, of which approximately 75 percent were 

 sugar maple and 13 percent were beech and hornbeam (Carpinus caro- 

 liniana Walt.). Most of the stems were of seedling origin and were less 

 than 5 feet tall. 



The prelogging mistblowing treatment was applied to the understory 

 during the last week in June 1967. (Tierson found that this type of 

 treatment has the best effect if begun after full leaf development and 

 completed at least 2 weeks before the first killing frost.) A 5-horsepower 

 mistblower was used to spray a 40-pound acid equivalent solution of 

 "D-T", at a rate of 7-1/2 gallons per acre (fig. 1). Both the 2,4-D and 

 2,4, 5-T were low volatile iso-octyl esters, each having an acid concen- 

 tration of 6 pounds per gallon. 



2 



