BALSAM FIE, 
61 
cases, is now being cut for the third time, smaller logs being taken 
at each new lumbering. Balsam, on the other hand, has been spared 
until recently and thus given a chance to spread at the expense of 
spruce. These facts are well brought out by measurements taken 
in Maine on 20 acres of virgin and 20 acres of forest cut over once. 
The difference in the representation of the two species in virgin and 
cut-over forest is especially striking in the trees of small diameters, 
since not enough time has elapsed after cutting to affect in any great 
degree the large trees. 
Table 51. — Average number of spruce and balsam fir up to 12 inches in diameter breast high 
on an acre of virgin and cut-over forest in Maine. 
Diameter breast high (inches). 
Virgin. 
Spruce. Balsam 
Cut-over. 
Spruce. | Balsam. 
2 
Z.V.V.V.V.'. 
4 
5 
6 
S.. ........ 
9-.-. 
10 
11 
12 
Total 
29.2 
51.0 
44.2 
39.4 
24.4 
23.2 
17.8 
17.4 
14.2 
9.2 
6.4 
12.8 
12.0 
11.8 
8.6 
7.0 
6.4 
6.4 
2.2 
2.0 
1.6 
1.2 
276.4 
72.0 
13.0 
8.6 
7.4 
5.4 
4.4 
4.2 
4.0 
3.4 
3.0 
2.6 
2.6 
58.1 
35.2 
23.4 
21.4 
19.8 
17.6 
14.6 
13.0 
10.2 
9.8 
4.6 
4.0 
173.6 
The rapid spreading of balsam over cut or burnt spruce land is 
due chiefly to its prolific seeding, love for light, and rapid growth. 
In this respect, as in many others, balsam occupies the same place 
among the northeastern conifers as aspen does among the deciduous 
species. It is the first of all conifers to take possession of openings, 
burnt or cut-over land, and at present outnumbers spruce in the 
young growth and smaller diameters throughout the northern woods. 
Table 52 shows the number of spruce and fir trees on an average acre, 
based on actual measurements of 955 acres in the forests of Maine. 
The measurements were taken on the slope type, where spruce is 
more at home than is balsam. 
Table 52. — Number of spruce and fir trees on an average acre, based on 952 acres in Maine. 
Diameter breast high (inches). 
Spruce. 
Balsam 
fir. 
Diameter breast high (inches). 
Spruce. 
Balsam 
fir. 
2 
9.1 
9.9 
9.1 
7.2 
5.8 
5.4 
4.6 
4.0 
17.8 
18.7 
18.0 
15.9 
13.2 
11.2 
9.6 
7.9 
10 
4.0 
3.6 
3.4 
6.1 
3.9 
2.3 
3 
11 
4 
12 
5 
Total 
6 
66.1 
124.6 
7 
Trees, 2 inches to 8 inches, 
8 
9 
51.1 
104.4 
