THE OLDER FOREST - PLANTATIONS % IN : -MAS SACHUSETTS i; CONIFERS ee —I-RSIMMONS SASS 1 FORESTER — UNDER THE DIRECTION OF. Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003008160 THE OLDER FOREST PLANTATIONS IN MASSACHUSHTTS. | CONIFERS. J. R. Stumons, Assistant FoRESTER, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF F. W. Ranz, State Forester. BOSTON: WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 32 DERNE STREET. 1915. APPROVED BY THE State BoaRD OF PUBLICATION. FOREW ORD. Mr. Simmons has brought together in this bulletin some very valuable information. All of the examples cited are re- sults of actual early planting in this State. Many of the plantations, it may be said, have not had the normal conditions that would exist to-day. Most of the stock planted was wild stock dug from the surrounding country, and ‘ in some instances the land used was extremely inferior. With nursery-grown transplants, adaptable soils and modern methods of thinning far better results may be, had in the future. The results reported herewith are extremely conservative, and the reader, I am sure, cannot help receiving encouragement “in attempting forest planting of pine in this State. Interest in reforestation is growing rapidly each year, and we may anticipate what our well-directed efforts of to-day will - bring forth twenty-five to fifty years hence by the results here shown. Every 1,000 acres planted now will mean much to posterity, ‘and, as well, reflect great credit and profit to our generation. F. W. RANE, State Forester. Fz. 1, 1915. FOREST PLANTATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS. INTRODUCTION. The object of this bulletin is to show the practicability and results of forest planting of coniferous trees, and deals with plantations which have reached an age when value can be measured in terms of lumber. The tracts selected for observa- tion were originally planted by private individuals who repre- sent the pioneers in the work of reforestation in this State. By interviewing these owners, or those to whom their property has been handed on, a considerable amount of information has been collected with regard to the objects which they had in mind in the beginning, the methods employed and the later management of their plantations. To this has been added measurements of each wood lot, either as a whole, or by the selection of sample plots, and the contents computed as de- scribed in the succeeding pages. The data and accompanying illustrations were taken in 1914. It is the desire of the State Forester to encourage those who own waste land to bring it back into forest production. This investigation represents one method of showing what may be expected from such an under- taking. Earty Mernops anpD INTEREST IN ForEsT PLANTING. The period between 1820 and 1880 was one of enthusiastic -planting of pine in New England. The lumberman foresaw the time when natural white pine as a marketable commodity would be gone, and the rise in prices would make planted tim- ber of economic importance. Large plantations were made by private owners, and a few by corporations. Seedlings were usually dug up from the fields lying around old seed pines, and planted either at random or in rows, and spaced at distances 6 varying from 4 to 15 feet. Seed plots were attempted by some, and others even tried out broadcast sowing. At the end of this period there were in Massachusetts alone forest plantations of white pine to the extent of 10,000 acres." Typical of the forest planters of this time was Mr. Augustus Pratt, a former member of the State Board of Agriculture, who, when nineteen years old, planted pine seed on an old pasture belonging to his father. The wood lot which thus developed has been recently cut, and was between forty and fifty years old. After 1880 interest began to decline, chiefly because of the im- mense supply of lumber brought from the‘region of the Great Lakes at a low rate of transportation and the inadequate methods of combating forest fires; these conditions tended to gradually dampen the enthusiasm of the forest planter. Present NEED OF REFORESTATION. We are now entering once more upon a campaign for the reclamation of waste land. This is due not alone to the de- crease in our supply of lumber, but also to the following facts: — There is a growing sentiment among our people for forests and scenic beauty. There are nearly 1,000,000 acres of waste land in Massachusetts; our hardwood forests are threatened by gypsy, brown-tail and other moth pests, and our beautiful chestnut tracts by the ever-increasing chestnut bark disease. Improved methods of forest-fire fighting and the co-operation of railroads, local fire departments and individuals have made possible the protection of forests, once they have been ac- quired. Coniferous trees offer the best means of realizing our present needs.- They act as the most effective check upon the devasta- tions of the moth, being unedible to the brown-tail, while the gypsy will pass them by if he can find anything else upon which to subsist.2. Beneath a pine forest there is always a thick bed of needles which keeps the ground moist and free from sprouts and deciduous seedlings. Therefore, while pine develops tremendous heat in case of fire, it prevents the collec- 1 United States Forest Service Bulletin No. 35. 2 See Massachusetts State Forester’s Bulletin on ‘‘Improvement Thinnings.”’ 7 tion of inflammable material which would feed on ordinary ground fire; in other words, it is a good preventive against the first causes. RECENT PLANTATIONS. Excellent plantations of pine, ranging from trees a few inches in height to 15 or 20 feet, may be seen on the watersheds of many of our lakes and streams. A large number of individuals and corporations in all parts of the State have undertaken re- forestation, either upon their own initiative or with the co- operation of the State Forester. In 1914 the amount of land planted under the reforestation act was 550 acres. In addi- tion to this, the Massachusetts State institutions and commis- - sions planted about 700 acres. The transplants were supplied from the State Forester’s nursery at Amherst, Mass. A new State Forest Commission has, within the year, been appointed by the Governor, and empowered to acquire wild and waste lands for the purpose of converting them into State forests. These lands will be turned over to the State Forester for plant- ing and management. In most parts of the State the work of private forestry companies is also becoming evident. To many people a flourishing forest is sufficient remuneration. For the economic advantages of reforestation the reader is referred to the measurements given herewith, and also to “Forest Mensura- tion of the White Pine,” which can be obtained by writing to the State Forester. “J Tue Forest Taxation Law. The advantages of the new forest taxation law should be known and understood by those interested in the subject of reforestation. In order to benefit by the provisions of the law the forest plantation must first be registered. The- law then substitutes for the general tax on land and timber two taxes, 4.e., one on the land at its own value, the same as if all the trees had been removed, and one equal to 6 per cent. of the stumpage value, payable when the timber is cut. The owner of a registered plantation would therefore pay an annual tax on the value of his land ($1 to $10 per acre, which at a $20 rate would amount to 2 to 20 cents) so long as the plantation stood, and a yield tax of 6 per cent. when the timber was cut 8 ($10 to $20 per acre). These two taxes would be considerably less than the amount paid under the present system, and their amount would be a known quantity, because the owner could determine in advance the amount which he would have to ex- pend. Under the old system he would be subject to the judg- ment of his assessors, who can raise the amount of his valua- tion from year to year. The reader is referred to the Massa- chusetts State Forester’s Bulletin, “The Forest Taxation Law.” PLANTATIONS. South Orleans, Mass. — Owner, John Kenrick. History. — This plantation was made in March, 1876, by John Kenrick, Sr., and consists of about 7 acres of white pine, Scotch pine and American larch. Previous to planting, the land had borne rye for one year and corn for two years, and «the trees were set out on the corn stubble 4 feet apart. On a portion of the tract, instead of using seedlings, small seed spots were sown, always with the same spacing. The larch consisted entirely of seedlings. In spite of the close spacing, the trees have made a remarkable growth for this section of the State, and there are very few blank spaces, even where the seed was used. Occasionally a small group of trees more slender than the others marks where several seedlings sprang up as if from a single root out of the seed spot, but usually the most vigorous tree has crowded out the others. Objects. Personal interest in forest planting, and to demon- strate the practicability of forest planting on Cape Cod; to improve and utilize land otherwise of little agricultural value. Treatment. — The original owner lived to make his first forest thinning, though well on in years when the planting was done. This was confined almost entirely to removing the dead and overcrowded trees. The 4-foot spacing remains in evidence throughout most of the tract. A large number of trees could now be removed to advantage, but even as they stand they present a marked contrast to the native pitch pine, being taller and of greater diameter. Kenrick, South Orleans, Mass. John t ee . % Sean oy g 4 a oO 2 3 a z oe rs) a aS} 3 $s FS a a a ao} g 3 é > 2 s By = ? ial os A a) i a a = a i=} 3 z [=] °o a val = fo} R oe BS} Fa i= oa M i=} = ° lard ry & Qa a 2 3 2 S wm BS ° i~] & 3 3 s S is a a] Bo) ° 8 oO > PS eI 7 o i > B Plot No. 1. White Pine predominating. Sample plot, 280 by 110 feet; age, thirty-eight years. NuMBER or TREES. DiaMETER Breast Hies (INcHss). White Scotch Height Bead Pine. Pine. (Feet). 5, 70 25 35 1,188 6, 59 21 35 1,400 7, 55 23 35 1,950 8, 38 21 40 2,065 9, 21 14 40 1,575 10, 16 8 40 1,320 i, 8 6 45 1,085 12, 7 2 45 810 18, 4 45 ; 410 14, 1 = 45 120 Total, 275 125 401 11,923 Total number of trees to acre, 571. Total board feet to acre, 17,033. 1 Average height. Plot No. 2. Scotch Pine predominating. Area, 4 acre; age, thirty-eight years. NuMBER oF TREES. DiaMETER Breast Hier (INcHEs). Scotch White Board Feet. Pine. Pine. 5, 21 14 525 6, 15 19 680 Ts 22 7 870 8, 26 12 1,330 9, 7 5 540 10, 5 275 iG 12, . 1 75 Total, . 97 57 4,295 Total number of trees to acre, 616. Total board feet to acre, 17,180. Average height, 40 feet. 10 Plot No. 3. Tamarack. Area, 4 acre; age, thirty-eight years. Diameter Breast Hieu (INcHEs). eee of Board Feet. 5, 19 238 6, é a te . 29 508 re : é 27 675 8, 15 450 9, 10 3875 10, 4 190 11, 1 60 12, 1 70 13, e : 1 80 Total, . 5 e 107 2,646 Total number of trees to acre, 428.. Total board feet to acre, 10,584. Average height, 35 feet. Plot No. 4. Tamarack. Area, 4 acre; age; thirty-eight years. Diameter Breast Hien (IncuEs). sae of | Board Feet. 5, js . 92 920 6, . ye 51 765 a ee Aa, Ss MG. ae - 2 32 640 8, : Fi E . i a 2 . . i 5 125 & 2 4% « Dn cia: :fi> wie B A. “2 1 30 10, el a ee . q 2 80 Total, . : . ‘ c . . . . * 3 183 2,550 Total number of trees to acre, 732. Total board feet to acre, 10,200. Average height, 80 feet. West Monponsett Lake, Mass. — Owner, Frank H. Albee. History. — Before this land was bought by the present owner it was covered with a beautiful plantation of white pine. This was for the most part lumbered in 1913 and cut, according to the buyer of the timber, 30,000 board feet to the acre. Measure- ments have been made of a sample acre of stumps and one inch 11 deducted to determine the diameter of the original trees breast high. The plantation was made about forty-six years ago by Samuel Alden, East Bridgewater, Mass., and a Mr. Kingman of Brockton, Mass., and the land selected was on an abandoned farm. Planting was begun in the fall and finished in the spring, and the spacing was done by means of cross-plowed furrows about 10 feet apart. Objects. — Interest in reforestation, and to utilize waste land. Treatment. —'The removal of dead trees was the only care given this tract, so far as could be determined. The wide spac- ing prevented excessive overcrowding, but the diameter growth was much better than the height, as estimated from the few trees left standing. Sample Plot. Area, 1 atre; age, forty-six years. e Diameter Breast HicH (Incuss). Naiaber of panne Board Feet. 8, 13 30 325 9, ; 9 30 270 10, 2 26 30 1,040 ll, . 17 30 850 12, ‘ 44 40 ‘ 3,300 13, =. ‘ 44 40 3,740 14, ; z 54 40 5,400 15, _ 40 40 4,600 16, 36 40 4,860 17, A : ‘ S < 19 50 3,800 18, tk . % - ip : 9 50 2,115 TOs - é . 5 is 2 60 670 20, es 1 60 380 21, : 7 5 js 7 2 1 60 430 Total, . F b> 315 423 31,780 1 Average height estimated. Rehoboth, Mass. — Owners, Miss Fannie Douse and Mrs. Clara I, Hubbard. History. — This fifty-five year old plantation was made by Mr. Christopher Carpenter. Pasture trees were used and the spacing was about 8 to 10 feet. At the end of the first ten 12 years the trees had reached the height of a man’s head. The property is now in the possession of Miss Fannie Douse and Mrs. Clara I. Hubbard. Treatment. — About four years ago the dead trees were re- moved and measures taken to protect the plantation from forest fires. An examination of the tract showed so regular a growth, and so much care in lining up the rows, that a slightly different method was used in measuring it, as follows: — Two rows of trees through the plantation were measured for heights and diameters, and the contents in each case multi- plied by the total number of rows. As a check on this work, a sample quarter acre was measured, with about the same aver- age result. Row No. 1. ° Area, 7 acres; age, fifty-five years. DiaMETER Breast HicH (INcHES). Apmber of Board Feet. 6, 4 120 i 1 40 8, ’ , 5 250 9, 7 420 10, 4 300 11, 7 630 12, 13 1,265 13, 4 480, 14, 4 560 15, 2 320 16, = i ‘ 1 260 Total, ee ‘i 4 r 52 4,645 Total number of rows, 66. Total board feet to acre, 43,796. Total board feet, 306,570. Average height, 50 feet. Total number of acres, 7. “ssvyy ‘YJOQoYoy ‘osnocy aluusy ssipY pus pavqqny “]T BIBI “say Aq pouMo ould o71yM Jo uorzye}UYIA pjo mwah VAY-A}7JI, ‘| \~— MP Be Tm ew ser A view of the same tract, taken inside the woods. i tenet (dina as. 13 Row N¢. @. Total Diameter Breast Hies (IncHgEs). Number of Board Feet. Trees. 6, 1 30 A 2 80 8, 2 100 9, 5 300 10, 11 825 11, P ‘i é 6 540 12, . s A P ‘ . “ i r % . 12 1,260 13, 7 840 14, 2 280 15, 16, ‘ 5 2 360 Total, . é ‘ ‘i 5 : ‘ : § 3 50 4,615 Total number of rows, 66. Total board feet to acre, 43,512. Total board feet, 304,590. Average height, 50 feet. Total number of acres, 7. Total Results Averaging Rows Nos. 1 and 2. Area, 7 acres. Number of trees to acre, 480. Board feet to acre, 43,654. Sharon, Mass. — Owner, Mr. Edwin Fobes. History. — The original planter was Mr. Lyman Plimpton, who in 1858 planted white pine on the site of an old peach orchard which had been killed by blight. When first made, the plantation comprised about 6 acres, but a forest fire swept through it a number of years ago, destroying or badly damag- ing over half of it. A few of the remaining trees show scars upon their trunks, but otherwise appear very thrifty. Purposes. — To utilize poor land. Interest in forestry, from . .the standpoint of lumber value and beauty of landscape. 14 White Pine. Area, 2 acres; age, fifty-six years. Bs Diamurer Breast Hien (INcuEs). peeled of aa Board Feet. 6, - . ‘ ; . ‘ 16 60 480 : ar ‘ : . A a . . s 23 60 1,150 8s 5 ‘ ‘ ‘ - a . a 50 60 3,250 9 a ‘ 2 ‘ < 0 r z a 75 60 7,875 10, . Z as Gf A ‘ 2 3 74 70 9,250 TW, 4s : : 5 é : : " ‘ 98 70° 14,210 122, . i : és ‘ ‘