Reducing mortality in old-growth northern hardwoods through partial cuttings

Abstract

To convert uncut old-growth stands of northern hardwoods to a thrifty forest through partial cutting it is necessary both to provide growing Space for promising trees and to reduce mortality. If the mortality normal in a virgin stand is not checked through proper cutting, there may be very little net growth. How then should cutting be done to stimulate growth and at the same time decrease the mortality rate? Recently mortality has been studied on experimental fellings carried out since 1926 in old-growth stands containing a high percentage of cull on the Upper Peninsula Experimental Forest, Dukes, Michigan. This analysis of experience records, collected incidental to general growth studies, provides some answers to the question.

Citation

Eyre, F.H.; Longwood, F.R. 1951. Reducing mortality in old-growth northern hardwoods through partial cuttings. Sta. Pap. 24. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Lake States Forest Experiment Station. 13 p.