Preliminary report on decay in sprout northern hardwoods in relation to timber stand improvement

Abstract

Trees of sprout origin are generally considered inferior to trees of seedling origin for the production of sawtimber, owing to form defect and the tendency for decay to enter through the parent stumps. Since most of the valuable hardwood species sprout readily over large areas of the northern hardwood region, clear-cutting of immature stands has resulted in the establishment of stands composed mainly of sprouts. As the result of repeated coppicing, many hardwood stands are practically worthless for the production of other than low-grade forest products. Timber stand improvement on a large scale by the Civilian Conservation Corps has emphasized the need of greater knowledge of sprout hardwoods, especially with reference to conversion treatments designed ultimately to produce more valuable forest products.

Citation

Campbell, W.A. 1938. Preliminary report on decay in sprout northern hardwoods in relation to timber stand improvement. Occasional Paper No. 7. New Haven, CT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.