A Silvicultural Evaluation of Four Methods of Marking Second-growth Northern Hardwood Stands

Abstract

Second-growth northern hardwood stands occupy an important segment of the commercial forest land of Upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin. The size- and age-class distributions and species composition of these stands vary considerably, but under all conditions most of the trees are highly defective or poorly formed or of an undesirable species. Forest managers recognize the need for early thinning and improvement cuttings but have hitherto been reluctant to do noncommercial cutting. Now, however, not only are there active noncommercial operations on the National Forests of the region, but also the use of dense hardwoods for pulpwood is making cuttings economically feasible at a much earlier age than was previously possible.

Citation

Jacobs, Rodney D. 1966. A Silvicultural Evaluation of Four Methods of Marking Second-growth Northern Hardwood Stands. Research Note NC-1. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station