I : _':,-:;_ "'_' '. " ' n' , _ 7 r 7- L- ’ , _:[:‘ 7' 'T__f'_'r,', , __ , , _ _‘,7 7': f -: _ .v'- - ‘ , -,,- ‘7:7_'>.'-_ -. I» if», :1! . I W. III III II I; '1 Him I I! I ‘w (0—: OO \IOO NATURAL REGENERATION ON A FORTY-FNE ACRE OAK-MIXED HARDWOOD AREA SEVEN YEARS AFTER "COMMERCIAL" CLEAR CUTTING TIwesIs Ior I'I'te Degree OI M. 5. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Alvin Donald Gammon 1958 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 3 293 00089 0859 MSU LIBRARIES RETURNING MATERIALS: Place in book drop to remove this checkout from your record. FINES wiII be charged if book is returned after the date stamped beIow. NATURAL REGENERATION ON A FORTYFFIVE ACRE OAK-MIXED HARDWOOD AREA SEVEN YEARS AFTER "COMMERCIAL" CLEAR CUTTING By ALVIN DONALD GAMMON AN ABSTRACT Submitted to the College of Agriculture Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Forestry 1958 Alvin D. Gammon ABSTRACT In spite of the importance of the oak type in Michigan, there is a dearth of information concerning the effects of various cutting prac- tices on oak regeneration. While clear cutting rarely has been recommended for managing oak in Michigan, there is a need for exploring the ecological changes that occur when oak stands are removed by clear cutting. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the development of nat- ural regeneration following clear cutting of an excellent forty-five acre mature oak-mixed hardwood stand in 1950, in Ionia County, Michigan. Forty-six mil-acre plots were located throughout the cutover area in 1952. Tree reproduction was diagrammed and tallied by species and height in inches. The plots were re-examined in 1953, 1955, and 1957. Substantial changes in the composition of the stand occurred as a result of the logging. The composition of the stand before logging was red and white oak, sugar maple, hickory, yellow-poplar, elm, white ash and red maple. By 1957, the reproduction in order of abundance was white ash, sugar maple, American elm, red maple, black cherry, red oak and yellow-poplar. Seedling reproduction sufficient to restock the area originated within the first two years after logging. The number of seedlings tn- creased in the third year after logging. By 1955, the number present had decreased below the number present in 1952. There was a further decrease in 1957. The majority of the seedlings present in the three Alvin D. Gammon iii re—examinations were survivors from the first examination in 1952. Re- production of sprout origin, principally of red oak, was only 8.6 per- cent of the total reproduction in 1952, and it decreased with each sub- sequent examination. The reproduction of sprout origin made the best height growth, in- creasing from an average of 29 inches in 1952, to an average height of 144 inches in 1957. The average_height of the seedlings increased from 9 inches to 41 inches during this period. Fluctuations occurring within the number and distribution of seed- lings present by species, between the examinations, indicate that the reproduction is not yet fully established; however, there were 2,390 seedlings per acre classed as small saplings in 1957, indicating that partial establishment has been achieved by all species in the seventh year after logging. The percentage of stems browsed by rabbits increased regularly from three percent in 1952, to 36 percent in 1957. Red maple and red oak were the species browsed the most by 1957, with 67 percent and 66 percent of the-stems browsed, respectively. This severe browsing is reflected by their slight increases in height. Between 1952 and 1957, the total average height growth was from eight to 19 inches for red maple and from six to 12 inches for red oak. The percentage of red oak of the total seedlings was relatively stable for the four examinations, being 6 percent for the first three examinations and 8 percent in the fourth examination.. Alvin D. Gammon iv The significance of the developments observed in this study indi- cate that clear cutting oak—mixed hardwood stands is suitable for ob- taining adequate natural regeneration to form the next stand; however, it will result in substantial species composition changes with the oaks, hickories, and yellow-poplars being reduced to minor components of the regenerated stand. NATURAL REGENERATION ON A FORTY-FIVE ACRE OAK-MIXED HARDWOOD AREA SEVEN YEARS man "COMMERCIAL" CLEAR CUTTING By ALVIN DONALD CANNON A THESIS Submitted to the College of Agriculture Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Forestry 1958 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his sincere thanks to Dr. Victor J. Rudolph, Assistant Professor of Forestry, for suggesting the study, and for his continued interest and guidance, and to Dr. T. D. Stevens, Professor of Forestry, Head, Department of Forestry, for the opportun- ity to pursue this investigation. The author deeply appreciates the Graduate Research Assistantship provided by Michigan State University, which made it possible for him to make this investigation. The author extends his sincere thanks to Mr. John L. Arend, Forester in Charge, Lower Paninsula Research Center of the Lake States Forest Experiment Station, for his permission to assume and continue this study which is a project of the Research Center. To his wife, Edith, the author is most deeply indebted for her encouragement and patience during the undertaking, and for her generous assistance in the final preparation of the study. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Hardwood Reproduction Studies in the Lake States . . . . 3 Oak-Mixed Hardwoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Northern Hardwoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hardwood Reproduction in the Northeast . . . . . . . . . 6 Mixed Hardwoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Northern Hardwoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hardwood Reproduction Studies in the South . . . . . . . 9 III. THE STUDY AREA AND FIELD PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Description of Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Field Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Reproduction in 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sprout Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Seedling Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Rabbit Browsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 The Reproduction in 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sprout Origin . .I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Seedling Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Rabbit Browsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Reproduction in 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Sprout Origin 0 o o e a o o e o o o o o o o CHAPTER Seedling Origin . Rabbit Browsing . . . . . . The Reproduction in 1957 . . . Sprout Origin . Seedling Origin . . Rabbit Browsing . . . . Comparison of the Reproduction V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . by viii PAGE . . 32 . . . 38 . . . . . 38 . . . 38 . . 38 . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Examinations . . . . . . 48 . . . . 59 O O O O O O 0 o O 64 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. 10. 11. Stocking and Average Height of Sprouts in the Second Year After Logging -- 1952 ... . ... . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Seedlings in the Second Year After Logging -- 1952 . . . . . . . . Number and Distribution of Seedlings Per Acre by Height Class in the Second Year After Logging - 1952 . . . Percent of Plots Stocked with Various Numbers of Seed- lings, by Species -- 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Sprouts in the Third Year After Logging -- 1953 . . . . .'. . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Seedlings in the Third Year After Logging -- 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . Number and Distribution of Seedlings Per Acre by Height Class in the Third Year After Logging -- 1953 . . . Percent of Plots Stocked with Various Numbers of Seed- lings, by Species -- 1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Sprouts in the Fifth Year After Logging -- 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Seedlings in the Fifth Year After Logging -- 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . Number and Distribution of Seedlings Per Acre by Height Class in the Fifth Year After Logging -- 1955 . . PAGE 20 22 23 25 26 28 30 31 33 34 36 TABLE 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Percent of Plots Stocked with Various Numbers of Seed- lings, by Species --.1955 . . . . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Sprouts in the Seventh Year After Logging -- 1957 . . . . . . . . . . Stocking and Average Height of Seedlings in the Seventh Year After Logging -- 1957 . . . . . . . Number and Distribution of Seedlings Per Acre by Height Class in the Seventh Year After Logging -- 1957 . Percent of Plots Stocked with Various Numbers of Seed- lings, by Species -- 1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . Percent of Reproduction Browsed by Rabbits by Species and Year of Examination . . . . . . . . . . Comparison of the Number of Seedlings and Sprouts in 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 37 39 42 46 47 49 51 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. An Illustration of the Quality of the Oak that was Harvested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2. The Woodlot During the Logging Operation . . . . . . . . . 13 3. A Typical Log Landing Scene During Logging, Showing Both Quality and Quantity of Trees that were Har- vested, and the Complete Removal of all Vegetation Within the Log Landing Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 4. The Woodlot in 1950 After Logging, Illustrating in the Foreground the Practically Clear Cut Condition with the Unscattered Slash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 5. A View of the Woodlot After Logging was Completed in 1950 Showing in the Foreground the Typical Size and Form of the Trees Left and in the Background the Density of the Unscattered Logging Slash . . . . . . 15 6. Diagram of the Study Area and Surrounding Fields . . . . . 16 7. The Ground Cover of Blackberry and Black Raspberry in 1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 8. An Excellent Yellow-Peplar Sprout with Several Smaller Sprouts from a 24-inch Stump Seven Years After Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 9. Typical Red Oak Sprouts Seven Years After Logging . . . . . 41 xii FIGURE PAGE 10. Yellow-Poplar Seedling Growth Seven Years After Clear Cutting on a Sample Plot in an Area that was Com- pletely Denuded by the Logging Operation . . . . . . . . 44 11. Dense Seedling Reproduction of Ash, Sugar Maple, and Black Cherry in 1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 12. Reproduction Browsed by Rabbits; Red Maple, Sugar Maple and American Elm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 13. Comparison of the Average Number of Stems of Reproduc- tion Per Acre, all Species, by Seedling Origin, and Seedling and Sprout Origin for the Second, Third, Fifth, and Seventh Year After Logging . . . . . . . . . . 52 14. Percentages by Species of the Total Seedlings Per Acre Present for the Second, Third, Fifth, and Seventh Years After Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 15. Average Seedling Height by Species for the Second, Third, Fifth, and Seventh Years After Logging . . J . . . 55 16. The Percent of the Plots Stocked with Seedlings by Species for Each Examination . . . . . . . . . °.° . . . 57 17. The Percent of Plots Stocked by Number of Seedlings Per Plot for Each Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A knowledge of natural reproduction is the key to the successful development of forests and to methods of silvicultural management and protection. Fifty years ago Henry S. Graves (1908) said that the study of natural reproduction constituted one of the most important lines of research of the American forester. This statement is still as true today as it was then. In 1954, the cut in the hardwood forests of Michigan was 390 mil- lion board feet. Approximately nine percent of this volume, thirty- three million board feet, was red oak (Quercus rubra.L.). The volume of red oak was exceeded by sugar maple (Acer saccharum March.), yellow birch (Betula Alleghaniensis Britton), the aspens (Populus.grandi- dentata Michx.) and (g. tremuloides Michx.), and two elms (Ulmus americana L.) and €U..§gbgg Muhl.), in that order, Horn (1957). In spite of the importance of the oak type, there is a dearth of information concerning the effect of various cutting practices and supplementary cultural measures on oak regeneration. For lack of accepted guides, trial-and—error silvicultural meth- ods have been used in harvesting and attempting to regenerate oak woodlands in Michigan. On the assumption that selection cuttings are not applicable to mature stands which are typically even—aged, usually some modification of the shelterwood system has been employed. While clear cutting rarely has been recommended for managing oak in Michigan, 2 there is a definite need for exploring the ecological changes that oc- cur when such stands are removed by clear cutting. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the development of natural regeneration following clear cutting of an excellent 45-acre mature oak-mixed hardwood stand in 1950 in Ionia County, Michigan. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE Although there have been many investigations made of the natural regeneration of hardwoods in the forest of the northeast and the south, only a few investigators have studied the reproduction of the oak and mixed hardwood forests of the Lake States. In this region, most of the reproduction studies have been in the northern hardwood type. I. HARDWOOD REPRODUCTION STUDIES IN THE LAKE STATES Oak-Mixed Hardwoods. Gysel and Arend (1953), studying oak sites in southern Michigan, found that in mature stands, on very good sites, oaks were represented by only four percent of the total number of trees of reproduction size. The remaining 96 percent of the tree reproduc- tion included black cherry (Prunus sergtina Ehrh.), sugar maple, flow- ering dogwood (Cornus florida L.), three hickories - shagbark (Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch), pignut (g. glabra (Mill.) Sweet), and bitternut (C. cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) - red maple (Acer rubrum L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nessl and slippery elm. Rudolph and Arnold (1956) found that in the first year after cut- ting in old-growth oak-mixed hardwoods in the Fred Russ Forest, sugar maple, red maple, and black cherry seedlings were abundant without ap- parent relation to the method of cutting, or absence of cutting on con- trol (uncut) plots. Yellow-poplar (Lirodendron tulipifera L.) seed- lings increased directly with the severity of cutting during the first year after treatment. They observed a decrease in the number of yellow-poplar seedlings in the second year after cutting. The abun- dance of oak seedlings also increased directly with the severity of cutting after one growing season. Scholz and DeVriend (1957) studied the changes in tree reproduc- tion on the Dundee Timber Harvest Forest in eastern Wisconsin from 1951 to 1955. On a two-acre mixed—oak area five years after clear cut- ting, they found ample natural regeneration, averaging 7,080 trees per acre, with a satisfactory percentage and distribution of red oak pres- ent. However, the percentage of oak was substantially less in the re- production than in the original stand; also, there was an increase of less desirable species in the reproduction as compared to the composi- tion of the parent stand. Northern Hardwoods. In 1920, Buttrick (1921) established a re- production study in a cut over northern hardwood area in northern Michigan. Unfortunately the field work for this study was performed by students who were unable to distinguish the seedling classes as planned in the studyv The data thus collected was unsatisfactory to use in formulating any conclusions. Herbert (1924) investigated the reproduction on an unburned area that had been clear out two years earlier. His study was near Johan- nesburg, Michigan, in an area typical of the hardwood region of the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. He found adequate natural reproduction following clear cutting, to the extent of 32,912 seedlings per acre, mostly of maple. In a nine-year report on reproduction following various cutting methods in northern hardwoods at the Upper Peninsula Experimental For— est, Lake States Forest Experiment Station, Eyre and Neetzel (1937) found good stocking present irrespective of the cutting’method. They found an average of 24,700 seedlings per acre ranging from one'year 01:1 to we and ahalf inches in diameter, with sugar maple comprising 99 per- cent of the total number. They noted that a dense growth of shrubs and woody herbs grew on the areas that were cut to a 12-inch diameter limit and on the clear cut area. This competition was detrimental to the growth of tree seedlings for a year or so but at the end of five years sugar maple was the dominant vegetation. Zillgitt (1950) reporting on this same study also stated that re- gardless of the method of cutting, reproduction, mostly sugar maple, is always adequate in number and distribution in the northern hardwood type of Michigan. He noted that the proportion of trees of good ori- gin, seedling cxr seedling sprout, increased regularly from clear cut to uncut reserves. Thus, in the proportion of good trees per acre, all degrees of partial cuttings are superior to clear cutting. Cope (1950) questioned the species composition of the reproduction. He stated that in the eastern northern hardwood region the only way to obtain a good representation of such intolerants as basswood (Iillfl americana L.), white ash, and black cherry was by clear cutting. In a 20-year report on the same study reported by Zillgitt in 1950, Eyre and Zillgitt (1953) recommended the selection method of cut- ting with certain modifications as the best system for managing mature northern hardwoods in the Lake States. II. HARDWOOD REPRODUCTION STUDIES IN THE NORTHEAST Mixed Hardwoods. In a study to determine the influence of various factors affecting reproduction of hardwoods in Connecticut that had been under management for twenty years, Averell (1929) found that the method of cutting, whether partial or clear cut, had less influence on the reproduction than was generally attributed to it. Factors of greater importance were seed supply, germination, and survival of young plants. He also noted that the method of cutting should discourage re- production of sprout origin. He found that on good sites woody shrubs get a good start the first year after logging and remain ten or more years as a severe hinderance to natural reproduction. He observed that rabbits favor hardwood reproduction over shrubs for browsing, with the Inaples and oaks at the top of the preferred list of plants. He con- cluded that on a rotation of 80 years or more, clear cutting permits plentiful reproduction of desirable seedling or seedling-sprout origin. On three areas each of improvement cuttings, commercial cutting to a.10-inch, and a 12-inch diameter limit, and on uncut forest, Mbore and Waldron (1938) found an abundance of reproduction on both the treated and untreated stands. They found that oak reproduction decreased on the cove sites and increased on the slope sites. The reproduction on all of the areas sampled was mostly of seedling origin. The cut over areas studied were logged from one to 11 years prior to this study. The study area was in the hardwood region of New Jersey. Wood (1938) also studied seedling reproduction of oak in New Jer- sey. He found that the large number of acorns destroyed in unprotected areas indicated that herbivorous animals alone may totally prevent seedling regeneration of chestnut oak (Quercus montana Willd.) in the southern New Jersey woods. Tryon and Finn (1947) found adequate natural reproduction 19 years after logging on 20 experimental improvement cutting areas on the Black Rock Forest in New York. They analyzed their findings statistically and found that there was significantly more red oak reproduction in the cutting areas than in uncut control areas. A regression calculation indicated that the cutting practice used would result in adequate re- generation of the better merchantable species in approximately 16 years. They regarded this as a start towards something clear and definite in the nature of a cutting cycle. The better merchantable species were red oak and chestnut oak. Northern Hardwoods. Dawson (1847) concluded from his observations on forest succession following fire and cutting in Nova Scotia that ‘ fl. \ conifers do not reproduce themselves adequately naturally, but hard- woods tend to regenerate themselves on denuded forest areas by the sprouting of roots and stumps. He did not recognize a difference be- tween sprout growth and the more desirable seedling reproduction. Knechtel (1903), in an elaborately designed experiment studied the natural reproduction in the virgin forest of the Adirondack mountains of New York. His conclusions were the same as those which Dawson had made from general observations. From observations on clear cut strips 200 feet wide in Delaware County, New Ybrk, Cope (1935) believes that adequate reproduction to 8 maintain good stands of northern hardwoods would be achieved by clear cutting on a 40-year rotation. Hough (1937) recommended a light individual tree selection out prior to clear cutting in the beech (F2535)-birch-map1e-hemlock (22252) type of the Allegheny Plateau. The first cut would open the crown of the stand and favor germination, survival, and growth of the seedling reproduction. His recommendation was based on a reproduction study in 60-year-old second growth on three types of areas; one was uncut, another was cut to a 10-inch diameter limit, and the third was selectively logged. In 1928, prior to cutting, study plots were es- tablished on each of the three areas. Detailed maps showing all tree reproduction and lesser vegetation on each plot were made at that time. Re-examinations were made in the spring and in the fall after each growing season for six years. He found that in the spring many seeds germinated with nearly all of the species present in the stand being represented by seedlings, but few of the newly germinated seedlings of a particular year's crop survived to the next growing season. He re- ported an 82 percent reduction by 1933 of the sugar maple and white ash that had germinated in the spring of 1928. The 1928 crop of black cherry was reduced 88 percent by 1933. The 1929 crop of ash and black cherry was reduced slightly less by 1933, the reductions being 78 and 79 percent. All of the seedlings grew slowly in height but excellent growth was maintained by the seedling sprouts. Rough considered the limiting factors to a natural regeneration to be: (1) the amount of soil moisture in the upper soil layer during late summer dry periods, (2) competition from shrubs and herbs, (3) the condition of the seedbed, (4) browsing by deer and rodents, (5) also frost and winter kill, and fungus disease and insect damage. Ostrom (1938) considered that the nature of the present second growth attested the success of clear cutting in 1900 of old growth and virgin stands on the Allegheny Plateau in Pennsylvania. In one second growth 13-year-old reproduction stand he found 4,250 stems per acre of which 55 percent were seedlings. III. HARDWOOD REPRODUCTION STUDIES IN THE SOUTH In a seven-year study of yellow-poplar reproduction, Sims (1932) found a regular turnover in seedlings. He concluded that root compe- tition and shading are probably the primary causes of the failure of yellow-poplar seedlings to develop. McCarthy (1933) stated that yellow-poplar seeds falling at the time of cutting can reach the soil and receive sufficient warmth from the sun to encourage germination. Once germination is accomplished the seedlings must face a critical period of one to three years. They must have protection from drying out in the summer and from frost heaving in the winter, but the grasses or weeds providing this protec- tion must cast little or no overhead shade. They require good moist conditions with good drainage, also there must not be any nearby ri- vals of sprout growth. Kuenzel and McGuire (1942) studied the response of chestnut oak reproduction to release by clear cutting and partial cutting in a sec- ond growth stand in southern Indiana compared with an uncut stand dur- ing the period from 1929 to 1939. They found that the oak reproduction 10 :remained the dominant species on all three methods of treatment. The greatest height growth was on the clear cut area. By 1939, most of 'the oak reproduction was of seedling origin, but 97 percent of all the «chestnut oaks over one inch diameter breast high were of sprout origin. ‘The sprouts averaged 21 feet in height and only a small number of seedlings had successfully established themselves in the overstory. Downs and McQuilkin (1944) indicated from their study of southern Appalachian oaks that a partial cut system was best for regeneration (If oaks in that region. They compared a partial cut system with the seed tree method. Wahlenberg (1956) in an analysis of variance of number of desir- able stems per acre found that moisture was the only variable having a significant effect on reproduction. When the comparison was made of various cutting treatments on a uniform moist area, he found that the reproduction was significantly better on the clear cut area. Iahlen- berg was concerned with the regeneration of mixed oak and hardwood old growth in North Carolina under varibus types of cuts. CHAPTER III THE STUDY AREA AND FIELD PROCEDURE The area selected for this study was formerly a mature oak-mixed hardwood stand approximately 45 acres in size, located in Ionia County, Michigan. During the winter of 1950, a harvest cut was made to a 12- inch diameter limit resulting in practically a clear cut condition. The trees that were left were generally small, poorly formed unmer- chantable trees of little value for seed production. I. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA The study area is located in Ionia County, Michigan, approximately two and one half miles west and one-fourth mile south of the Junction of Highway 16 and the Ionia County Clarksville Road. The area is ap- proximately 47 miles west of East Lansing, in Section 29, Township 6 North, Range 8 West, Michigan Meridian. The topography is generally level, and the site quality would be classed as very good, as described by Gysel and Arena (1953). The pre- dominant soil type is Celina loam; however, there is a small strip of Conover loam across a portion of the northern half of the area. The Celina series and the Conover series include Gray Brown Podzolic soils developed on Calcareous loam glacial till. The Celina soils are moderately well drained and the Conover soils are imperfectly drained. The native vegetation for bOth series is deciduous forests; consisting of sugar maple, elm, beech and some oak for the Celina 12 series, and elm, ash, soft maple, white oak, (Quercus alba L.), shag- bark hickory and basswood for the Conover series. The area is bordered on the north and east by old fields, and on the south by an uncut stand similar to the stand on which this study is based. It is bordered on the north half of the west side by a young mixed hardwood stand which apparently developed after a clear cut op- eration approximately fifty years ago. On the south half of the west side it is bordered by a cultivated field. The original stand consisted of red oak, white oak, sugar maple, and hickory, with lesser amounts of yellow-poplar, elm, white ash, and red maple. The quality and quantity of the trees removed in the bar- vest cut are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Logging was done in the winter following a good acorn crop. The slash was heavy and was not scattered. The condition of the slash and the remaining trees are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. II. FIELD PROCEDURE In June and October of 1952, 46 mil-acre plots were installed throughout the woodlot to study tree regeneration. They were circular plots located at 100-foot intervals along three north and south lines evenly spaced across the area. Fig. 6 shows the location of the area and its surroundings, and the plot locations. Wooden stakes, painted yellow, were set at the plot centers, and witness trees and stumps were also painted to facilitate future loca- tion of the plots. In the fall of 1957, the wooden stakes were Fig. 1. An illustration of the quality of the oak that was harvested. (Photograph courtesy U. S. F. 8., Lower Peninsula Research Center.) Fig. 2. The woodlot during the logging operation. Note the proximity of the stumps and logs. (Photograph courtesy U. S. F. S., Lower Peninsula Research Center.) 13 . I . \j' ‘ p D :i c 3’5.“ ?~cv W ”I "‘2 ‘O .. 0"'..’.'$ ‘ . ‘l. O — gum 9. g 1.. 'r I .2. .E - I‘ ’I m‘. 1.4 J 1A,.V As.) \ -.. -! Io ‘D ..-.- o p A I. .4" ’ P «a .‘ '- T2 _ J (1.3"..80'. " ‘ - - t . mum, -- ES -L.‘ a v Fig. 3. A typical log landing scene during logging,showing both quality and quantity of trees that were harvested, and the complete removal of all vegetation within the log landing area. (Photograph courtesy U. S. F. S., Lower Peninsula Research Canaan) Fig. 4. The woodlot in 1950 after logging, illustrating in the foreground the practically clear cut condition with unscat- tered slash. The background shows the trees that were not logged. (Photograph courtesy U. S. F. S" Lower Peninsula Research Center.) 14 Fig. 5. A view of the woodlot after logging was completed in 1950 showing in the foreground the typical size and form of the trees left and in the background the density of the unscattered logging slash. (Photograph courtesy U. S. F. S., Lower Peninsula Research Center.) 15 ca? '2 16 ,JC‘ eL'J . I He; Old 9'?) field 3'3 Scale: 1" = 330' } mi. to U.S. Hwy. 16 -or~‘~ _QQ 31. seampmngagg 32. C" ~~ .0! "o ‘J o s . C” " taxes/risers?!» 30 ‘ 1 ' ‘- (‘6'. n".- J ' a e .‘c; 3:2,: 33 c 1 29 . 2 v {j e ina loam ° 5-333.“ 34 . 28 ’ 01d 50-Year-old 5%: - - ’ 3'; ‘ . mixed hardwood 565’ 35' _,-.o&£éi'2"‘ finvfl stand 0'??? '.-“'" Conover loam be ‘ ‘ 36 . 4 . 39.5. 26 ° ’4 3 349' 5 . ’ ' I 35.93 *37 ' 25 ' v} ‘6" W333 38-~"-- -' 6' .*!-“" «:“4 V w "'3 . "-..u .3 t‘: efioE'SZHIE’g'fiIBf m 24 N "‘ field weave ”a. - 5’3“ 7' 1.40.. ‘twa.fu.:q, 303*). 33/ e 3 a 3 3 39 ‘3 23 g g #80 4O . 22 e 9 e 41 e ##21 . *10' 42- . 2° 11. Cultivated 43° 19 ‘ 12- field Celina loam ) 44 ' 18 0 13a 17 . 45 . 14 e 13 cha S ins E. of It} Cor. 46 . 16 0 ac. 29 T.6N, R.8W. 15- may «a'e="*.r'-'.esr'i°‘: - ~... *5 "‘ rm) {.2 .2 a r’ ' o 6"}?«4‘3 7‘" ‘3 "’I - .. :5, w . .. J : . Cultivated 9 ' ,3 n... V2 733 43-”: e m .1 x») field z.‘ c" a: " ‘3' ' 55‘ I 5’ f”‘_\ .’ Uncut q 3 312;; oak-mixed hardwood ‘3‘ stand Fig. 6. The study area and its surroundings. *Plots 8, 10, and 37 could not be relocated in 1955 and 1957. **P10ts 21 and 27 could not be relocated in 1957. ‘Lr\ u 7a Lash-‘1 17 replaced with steel pipes and the witness trees were remarked with yel- low paint. Tree reproduction was diagrammed and tallied by species and height in inches for each plot at the time of installation. The plots were re-examined to determine height growth and composition changes in June 1953, in October 1955, and in the fall and winter of 1957. The area has remained relatively undisturbed since cutting, except for normal hunting and wildlife use. CHAPTER IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants were present on the area at the time of the first examination in 1952. The principal woody plants were elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.), raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.), blackberry (R. canadensis L.), and dogwood.. The predominant herbaceous plants were thistle (Cirsium sp.), golden- rod (Solidago sp.), and milkweed (Asclepias sp.). By 1955, at the time of the third examination, the ground cover was still extremely heavy but the character was changing. More woody plants, including vines, were appearing and the number of sun-demanding herbaceous plants was reduced. Blackberry and black raspberry had be- come the dominant woody plants, but more tolerant shrubs such as dog- wood, ribes (51225 spp.), and Viburnum (Viburnum spp.), were increas- ing. Others present were staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), prickly ash (Aralia spinosa LJ,witch-haze1 (Hamamelis virginiana L.). green- brier (Smilax sp.), and hawthorn (Crataegus beata Sarg.). Shade tol- erant plants, including trillium (Trillium spp.), violets (Viola spp.), Solomon's seal (Polygonatum sp.), and woodland fern (Dryopteris sp.) Were appearing. Little change was observed in the ground cover between the third examination in 1955 and the fourth examination in 1957. Blackberry and black raspberry were still the most numerous woody plants, but the tree reproduction was beginning to overtop them on part of the area. This is shown in Fig. 7. 19 .n _ _ __ -l-_-—— —-l'n-_. vr . ,I/ ; . , I... . . _ I. (It I: is! Imfimwifiawiwaxl 4.- .. -.. ;.. . . I. .. Q1;AA./%r_ . Vfi . a . .. \.\ .... .m emits: gnaw... 2%. . first; A:.mW« -3: m .3559“? . fl". . ‘ 1W: h .5 ’ \ A. ”K“ . . {s d . v _ . If “ “9 .‘n‘lv‘\o;n . t D ‘ ‘.¢n1w1. .. I. I L, r. f..‘ I. I.‘ an. I Etch ilimhfiu_w. , .. .K .9... .. I. - bf. . nu. , 5‘. . ... . v I u... r. TIC... M. Q 0&1 35...»).‘mm... 0‘ ., II‘ ., . 52.x .. ad . 114. m4 . if a giaflu The ground cover of blackberry and black raspberry in Fig. 7. Aspens have overtopped the berries in the right foreground 1957. The trees in the back- where a skid road was located during logging. ground were left in logging in 1950 20 The information obtained from each examination was converted to a per acre basis, and summarized by years of examination. Tables are presented and discussed for each examination in relation to the origin, species composition, height, and distribution of the reproduction. I. THE REPRODUCTION IN 1952 Sprout Origin. The stocking and average height of sprouts by spe- cies in 1952 are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1. STOCKING AND AVERAGE HEIGHT OF SPROUTS IN THE SECOND YEAR AFTER LOGGING -- 1952 Number of Average Species sprouts ‘height per acre fv‘ inches Sugar Maple 40 3 Red Oak 700 47 White Ash 90 7 Beech 150 l Dogwood 310 9 All Species 1,290 29 Of‘the reproduction on the area in 1952 only 1,290 stems or 8.6 per- cent was of sprout origin; the remainder was of seed origin. The spe- cies of sprouts present on the sample plots in order of their abundance were red oak, dogwood, beech, white ash, and sugar maple. Red oak was 21 represented by 700 sprouts, or 54 percent of the total number per acre. It was also the tallest of all the reproduction, averaging 47 inches in height. Seedlinngrigin. Seventy-eight percent of the seedling reproduc- tion was composed of seven species; yellow-poplar, sugar maple, white ash, red maple, red oak, American elm, and black cherry, in that order. 2: The remaining 22 percent consisted of 17 species: black oak (Quercus I5- velutina Lam.), sassafras, American beech (Eagug‘grandifolia Ehrh.), I ironwood (Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch), three hickories - pig- I nut, bitternut, and shagbark --, basswood, white oak, dogwood, prickly ash, trembling aspen, bigtooth aspen, black walnut (Juglans‘nigrg L.), hawthorn, witch-hazel, and black willow (Sgl£§.2ig£2 Marsh.). In this study, these 17 species have been grouped as miscellaneous. The stocking and average heights of the seedling reproduction in 1952 is shown in Table 2. There was a total of 13,900 seedlings per acre in 1952, of which 4,280 were yellow-poplar. Though yellow-poplar had the most stems, its average height of three inches was the lowest. The tallest seedlings were in the miscellaneous group which averaged 16 inches in height. Red oak was represented by 830 stems per acre with an average height of six inches. The number of seedlings per acre by four height classes is shown in Table 3. Toumey and Horstian (1947) define three height classes for seedling reproduction: seedling, less than three feet; small sap- ling, three to ten feet; and large sapling, over ten feet and less than four inches in diameter. The seedling class was divided in this TABLE 2. 22 STOCKING AND AVERAGE HEIGHT OF SEEDLINGS IN THE SECOND YEAR AFTER LOGGING -- 1952 Number of Average Species seedlings height per acre inches Yellow-Poplar 4,280 3 Sugar Maple 1,670 8 Red Oak 830 6 White Ash 1,590 9 Red Maple 1,220 8 American Elm 830 14 Black Cherry 410 12 Miscellaneous* 3,070 16 All Species 13,900 9 *The miscellaneous group includes black oak, sassafras, American beech, iron- wood, hickory, basswood, white oak, dog- wood, prickly ash, aspen, black walnut, hawthorn, witch-hazel, and black willow. 23 TABLE 3. NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDLINGS PER ACRE BY HEIGHT CLASS IN THE SECOND YEAR AFTER LOGGING -- 1952 Height class* -- feet Species Under 0.5 0.5 to 3 3‘to 10 Over 10 Total Small Large Small Large seedlings seedlings ‘gapliggs<_f saplings "W per acre Yellow-Peplar 3,930 350 0 0 4,280 Sugar Maple 1,020 560 90 o 1 ,670 Red Oak 500 330 0 O 830 'White Ash 630 960 0 0 1,590 Red Maple 520 700 0 0 1,220 American Elm 90 700 40 0 830 Black Cherry 220 150 40 0 410 Miscellaneous 1,150 . ' 1,570 350 o 3 , 070 All species 8,060 5:320——= 520 0 13,900 *Heights are separated into classes as defined by Toumey and Korstian (1947) as: seedling, less than three feet; small sapling, three to ten feet; and large sapling, over ten feet and less than four inches in diameter. The seedling class was separated in this study into two classes: small seedlings, less than one-half foot; and large seed- lings, one-half to three feet. 9" 1 1 24 study into two classes: under one-half foot; and one-half to three feet, to separate small and large seedlings. No large saplings were present when the plots were established and only sugar maple, American elm, black cherry, and the miscellane- ous group were represented in the small sapling class. The majority of the stems were in the small seedling class. The distribution of seedlings by species for the percent of plots which were stocked is shown in Table 4. Distribution of the stocking by species on the plots was irregular. The percent of plots with one or more seedlings per plot ranged by species from 46 percent with the miscellaneous group to 19 percent with American elm. Red oak was re- presented on 38 percent of the plots. By individual species, the largest percent of stocked plots was in the one seedling per plot class, which ranged from 20 percent for red oak to 7 percent for sugar maple. In stocking by any species, only 7 percent of the plots were bare; no plots had only one seedling per plot; and 29 percent had 11 to 20 seedlings per plot. Rabbit Browsing. Rabbit browsing was relatively unimportant at the time of the first examination. In 1952, only 3 percent of the to- tal number of stems of reproduction had been browsed. By species, fins ranged from 0 for yellow-poplar to 9 percent of the sugar maple. One Percent of the red oak and 4 percent of the red maple had been browsed. This is shown as part of the data in Table]? on page 49. I I !.IIIIIIHII"IIII 25 mm on mm as m o as v e s moaooem HH< ----....-. ........... .-i. . ..... 2.... ..... .i.-- x 235mm...“ mm o o o o o a e mm mm seamen sedan as o a a o o o e as am sum nauseos< an a a u o o o v as as made: cox oe o o as e v e a ma om em< «use: an o o o o a e s on no see ems ee 0 o as e m m m a on mean: sauna me a m a e e a n «H on eeneemuaoaaew noEUOpn -mmafiammmm no names: obese spas mpon no vsooaom moose no a: an ounas cane n e m a H o noaemeu unooaom doves «can son-mmmwaooom no amoasz Nmma II mumoflmm wm .mozHAnflHm ho mmumlbz mDOH¢<> EHHB nHMDOHm mBOQA ho szomflm .v Hamoem1duas muomq no udooaem aaoao no as an owned cane n v n a H o uoaooam unsound Hooch ,1 I beam so a sea oom.uo macaw: -« NEE mood I: muuoflmm rm .muzmqnmmm ho mummxpz mDOHm<> mans nuaooam maogm ho azuommm .m HAQ< as once son masoaom Ho nonasz owedau mama II QZHOOOJ zuhhd ¢< nz< UZHmUOHm .m flqmonm new; 3on no ammo-mom - I nuoao «0 ad «a can: 0.7. m N HI 0 aoaooam «season .2308 -11 I 1.1 umHm. Hudduxsxdluduuwla and-Media? II, I-IlllvaI III mama I! mmHOflmm hm .mquAnHmm ho mmflmzbz mDOHm<> 38H; QflMUOBm mBOQA ho HZHommm .NH.IAQ< . :a when non quaaoooa no nonesz madman I I‘ i I! . “HE " _ u u I , boaa ll OZHQOOQ flHBh< ¢<flh mHZM>Nm.HMH 2H mUqunflmm hO HMUHHm flu<flfl>< nz< OZHMUOHM .¢a fldmonm spas macaa no aaooaom .uoam « .lms am 1|. om4oa calm n v m m a o moaomam a... an . . . we 1 41 aca. :1 a - I-'|'"lu\llll l 1.! ‘1.‘.||‘l‘"l .1'."||‘rll'|ln I..llv "illl'-ll'l|l\l'lllll l"lli|-nl’nl||l|l'll l 4’-Ilnl|l.' l puma It muaoflmm hm .mozudnumm ho mammzbz mDOHm<> MPH? GNMOOFm meogm ho Bzmommm .oa quth 48 largest percent of stocking by species. It ranged from 34 percent with one black cherry seedling, to 7 percent with one yellow-poplar seed- ling. Twenty-seven percent of all plots had six to ten seedlings of some species and 2 percent had only two seedlings. Twenty percent of all plots had three seedlings on them. Rabbit Browsing. By 1957, 36 percent of all the reproduction showed some browsing by rabbits. By species this ranged from 67 per- cent of the red maple and 66 percent of the red oak, down to 21 percent of the yellow-poplar. Table 17 shows the percent browsed by species for each examination. Fig. 12. illustrates browsed red maple, sugar maple, and American elm seedlings in 1957. V. COMPARISON OF THE REPRODUCTION BY EXAMINATIONS Trends in composition, height, and distribution of the reproduc- tion are shown by comparing the four examinations. Table 18 shows a comparison of the seedling and sprout reproduc- tion for the four examinations. This table shows that sprouts com- prised only a minor portion of the number of stems for each examination. The largest number of sprouts was present in the second year after log- ging, with a decrease in the three subsequent examinations. The number of seedlings had increased between 1952 and 1953, but the two subse- quent examinations showed a substantial reduction in the total number per acre. The number of seedlings represented adequate reproduction present for each examination. Fig. 13 indicates that the seedling reproduction that originated during the first two years after logging is the most important TABLE 17. PERCENT OF REPRODUCTION BROWSED BY RABBITS BY SPECIES AND YEAR OF EXAMINATION Species Year of examination Average 1952 1953 1955 1957 Percent— Yellow-Poplar 0 3 5 21 7 Sugar Maple 9 8 30 26 18 Red Oak 1 9 60 66 34 White Ash 8 14 34 25 20 Red Maple 4 15 18 67 26 American Elm 3 31 38 56 32 Black Cherry 6 4 11 28 12 Iiscellaneous 3 7 21 25 14 Average all species 3 9 21 36 24 50 a .smma ea eoaamamosoaa .Amv saw amoaaos< cam Av cam my magma nausm .Aav magma can “nuances an oomsoan scauosoouaoz .Na .uam 51 omm ome.m ovv omm.ma one omm.va omm.a oom.ma monommm aa< --mm------m...mm 3 2mm- ....... mm ...... -mmm- ...... mm...--..-4-3mm------..m_..mm...wmm o amp 0 oma.a o ome o oav anyone madam o omm o omo.a o omv o. cmm saw amoaama< o com o ova.m o omm.a o mmm.a mama: com o omm.a om omo.m om ovs.a om omm.a am< means oaa cab oma map can omm ooh omm sac cum om oem.a om omn.a op omm.a ow osm.a mama: sauna o com o omm.a o omm.v o omm.¢ anamoauaoaaom {mace use macaw mo “snazz. .LI mpsoaam mmaaaocom masoaam musaaooom mpsoanm musaaooom musoaam musaaooom bmma mama scaumsaaaxo no mama moaooam 114' 4! amma az< .mmma .mmma .mmma 2H mamommm az< mczaaaemm no mmmssz use me zOmHmom use .numam .oaaau .osooom on» new anemone once you mmsaaomom aoHOu on» no moaooam ha mouousooaom .va .uah msoosoa maaoso Sam cane: nm< ado mane: amaaon uaoomaz madam saoaaoe< no: means new nousm :soaaow fil. ‘\ \\\\ flea a O (O J 40 ca 'aaoe Jed saurtpaas 13304 JO guessed Ahmaav Annmav Annmav Aammav uaauuoa sound usauuoa sound usaumOa acumkai usauUOa goons loo ammm suso>mmfl new.» sting pooh chase f/z/ use» osooom I 55 memo» noco>om one .aoaaa .oaans msoosma magmao lacuna: xomam n \\ \x \i L \i \x F Ammmav waauMOa nouns use» nuso>om aam cans: sooaaos< com \ \ Annmav am< moans usammOa aoumm new» apnea \\\ T\\\:\\ Annmav usaMMOa nouns use» oaanh // .osooom may no.“ moaooam an anuao: usaaooom ommao>< mane: amusm \ Annmav usaqua scone new» osooom .msaMMOa amanpm Isaaaow T\\\\\ sound .na .mam O N 'seqour u: iqsteq efisaaav 56 these species is a result of averaging the low height of large numbers of new seedlings with decreased numbers of older, taller seedlings. The slowness and irregularity of the pattern of height growth for red oak and red maple is attributed to the severity of browsing of these species by rabbits. Fig. 16 shows that there was an irregular pattern of increased distribution by species of the percent of plots stocked from 1952 through 1955. By 1957, there was a generally decreasing trend in the percent of plots stocked for all species. Fig. 17 shows an irregular distribution of plots by number of seedlings per plot. There has been a general decrease in the percent of plots having more than ten seedlings per plot. In the seventh year after logging, this decreasing trend included the plots with six to ten seedlings per plot. In general the percentage of plots with one to five seedlings per plot has increased. 57 .GOaHmGanxo some ace moaooam an mmsaaeoom spas ooxoOpm macan on» no asooaoa one .wa .uam msoosma maaoao aam mane: nm< moo cane! seamen /// -303: x38 50205. com 322 com amuse. 1.630» V \ III JVI III“... \ #IIVI \ Y .\ X X \ \ \ \ \/ X \ \ \ Y X . X \ \ \ \ \ \ r \/ \ X \ J\ \ .\ A\/ X _ \ \ \ W \ \ \ .l\ \ \ \ \ [XV \ \ \ \ T X X \ [\L l [X I\ \ x. 1: Y 1 \V FX T T\ \\ Hum gnu \\ \\ [k rlh abmmav Annmav Annmav Annmav .mmoflwm .swm “mm \ Emu “m...“ 2%....”qu I IO N D If) we 'pexoois snotd JO guessed 58 .UUIIV .sOaumsaeoxo some you «Can you mmsaacoom «0 homes: no coxOOum macaa no uscoaoa was .ba .mah moaooam aam .ana son musaaooom Ho aonasz as am owlaa Calm n v m N a V - \ , , - . . , 1 a - d a \ \ X \ \ x \ \/ A \/ \ Y\ IL \V [\ \ L Annmav Annmav Annmav Annmav usauMOa nouns. . usaqua amumm‘\\\ wsamwOa nouns _ usaqua heave one.» nuso>om_ _ pooh sumah so?» chafing use.» osoooml ca ON on 0v 'siotd JO iueoaad CHAPTER V SUIIARY AND CONCLUSIONS FOur examinations of the natural regeneration following commercial clear cutting of an excellent oak-mixed hardwood stand in 1950 were made two, three, five, and seven years after logging. The examinations were made on 46 mil-acre plots established in 1952. The established reproduction was ample and mainly of seedlings originating after log- ging and before the first examination in 1952. Reproduction of sprout origin, principally of red oak, was only_ 8.6 percent of the total reproduction in 1952, and decreased with each subsequent examination. The best height growth of all the reproduction was made by the red oak sprouts which grew from an average of 47 inches in 1952 to an average of 174 inches in 1957. Sprouts, in general, made the best height growth, increasing from an average of 29 inches in the first examination to an average height of 144 inches in 1957. The composition of the stand before logging was red and white oak, sugar maple, hickory, yellow-poplar, elm, white ash, and red maple. The principal seedlings present in 1952, in order of their abundance were yellow-poplar, sugar maple, white ash, red maple, red oak, Ameri- can elm, and black cherry. These species composed 78 percent of the seedling reproduction,with the remaining 22 percent composed of 17 mis- cellaneous species. Fluctuations in the ranking of these species oc- curred in the subsequent examinations, and in 1957 their ranking had 4changed to white ash, sugar maple, American elm, red maple, black 6O cherry, red oak, and yellow-poplar. These species composed 81 percent of the seedling reproduction at that time. In 1952, seedling reproduction averaged 13,900 stems per acre with an average height of nine inches. The reproduction was classed princi- pally as small seedlings, less than one-half of a foot in height. The - distribution of stocking was irregular. Seven percent of the sample plots were without reproduction, 29 percent had in excess of eleven seedlings, and there were no plots with only one seedling. Red oak was represented on 38 percent of the plots. Rabbit browsing was relatively light with only 3 percent of the total reproduction browsed. Yellow- poplar was the most abundant species with 4,280 seedlings per acre, however, it averaged only three inches in height. Red oak was repre- sented by 830 seedlings per acre with an average height of six inches. By 1953, seedling reproduction had increased to 14,590 stems per acre with an average height of 12 inches. The number of yellow-poplar had increased to 4,650 per acre as a result of 1,830 new seedlings which more than replaced mortality losses. The majority of the seed- ling reproduction except for yellowepoplar and the miscellaneous group was large seedlings, between one-half and three feet in height. How— ever, there was still considerable representation, particularly of yellow-poplar and the miscellaneous group, in the small seedling class. Distribution of stocking was still irregular with 11 percent of the sample plots unstocked and 31 percent of the plots with six to ten seedlings. Rabbit browsing had increased to 9 percent of the repro- duction. 61 The number of seedlings had decreased by 1955 to 12,220 per acre. The average height had increased to 24 inches. The greatest mortality was in yellow-poplar which had only 31 percent of the stocking present in 1952. The reproduction was primarily classed as large seedlings, with a large number of small seedlings, but the small sapling class - over three feet but less than ten feet in height - was beginning to be well represented by all species. There was a small representation of sugar maple, white ash, black cherry, and the miscellaneous group in the large sapling class - over ten feet in height. Distributions of the stocking had improved with all of the sample plots being stocked. The percent of stocked plots ranged from 2 percent with one seedling to 35 percent with six to ten seedlings per plot. Rabbit browsing on red oak was serious with 60 percent of these seedlings browsed. An average of 21 percent of all the reproduction present had been browsed. By 1957, the seedling stocking had decreased to 8,720 stems per acre. Of this total, 6,210, or 71 percent, were survivors from the original 13,900 seedlings present in 1952. Red oak was represented by 710 seedlings per acre averaging 12 inches in height. The average height of the seedling reproduction was 41 inches. The reproduction was still primarily in the large seedling class, but there were 2,390 stems per acre established in the small sapling class. Red oak was the only species not represented in the large sapling class. All of the plots were stocked. Twentyhseven percent of the sample plots were stocked with six to ten seedlings. Red oak was present on 29 percent of the plots. By 1957, an average of 37 percent of all the reproductnm1 62 had been browsed by rabbits. Red maple and red oak were the species browsed the most, with 67 percent and 66 percent browsed, respectively. Significance of the developments observed in this study may be summarized as follows: (1) Reproduction sufficient to restock the area was primarily of seedlings originating within the first two years after clear cutting. (2) Species representation in the reproduction indicate that the composition of the regenerated stand will be greatly different from the stand which was clear cut. Red oak and yellow-poplar are minor compon- ents of the new stand, with hickory and white oak reduced to only oc- casional representation within the new stand. Former oaks, hickories, and yellow-poplars have been replaced by white ash, American elm, red maple and black cherry. (3) Fluctuations occurring within the number and distribution of seedlings present by species indicate that the reproduction is not yet fully established; however, the representation in the small sapling or larger class in 1957 indicates that partial establishment by all spe- cies has been achieved by the seventh year after logging. (4) Rabbit browsing is severely detrimental to the height growth of red oak and red maple seedlings. In the case of oak, rabbit brows- ing damage may be the most important factor in limiting the representa- tion of oak in the established reproduction. 63 (5) Developments observed in this study indicate that clear cut- ting oak-mixed hardwood stands is suitable for obtaining adequate nat- ural regeneration to form the next stand; however, it will result in substantial species composition changes with the oaks, hickories, and yellow-poplars being reduced to minor components of the regenerated stand. LITERATURE CITED Averell, James L. 1929. Factors Affecting the Reproduction of Hard- wood Forests in Southern Connecticut. Jour. For. 27:55-61. Butterick, P. L. 1921. A Study of Regeneration of Certain Cutover Hardwood Lands in Northern Michigan. Jour. For. 19:872-876. Cope, J. A. 1935. Clear Cutting for Acid Wood in Delaware County, N. Y. Jour. For. 33:938-939. r 1950. On Reproduction Following Northern Hardwood Cut- ting. Jour. For. 48:357. Dawson, J. W. 1847. On the Destruction and Partial Reproduction of Forests in British NOrth America. Amer. Jour. Sci. 2(4):161-170. Downs, Albert A., and William E. McQuilkin. 1944. Seed Production ‘of Southern Appalachian Oaks. Jour. For. 42:913-920. Eyre, F. H., and J. H. Neetzel. 1937. Applicability of the Selection Method in Northern Hardwoods. Jour. For. 35:353-358. , and W. H. Zillgitt. 1953. Partial Cuttings in Northern Hardwoods of the Lake States (Twenty-Year Experimental Results). U. S. D. A. Tech. Bull. 1076, 124 pp. illus. Graves, H. S. 1908. The Study of Natural Reproduction of Forests. Forestry Quart. 6(2):115-137. Gysel, L. W., and J. L. Arend. 1953. Oak Sites of Southern Michigan: Their Classification and Evaluation. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 236. Herbert, P. A. 1924. Hardwood Lands After Logging: Adequate Repro- duction is Secured Under Present Methods of Cuttings if Fire is Kept Out. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull. 7(1):26-30. Horn, Arthur G. 1957. A Record of the Timber Out From Forests of the Lake States - 1954. Lake States For. Exp. Sta.: Sta. Paper No. 53. Hough, A. F. 1937. A Study of Natural Tree Reproduction in the Beech— Birch—Maple-Hemlock Type. Jour. For. 35:376-378. Knechtel, Abraham. 1903. Natural Reproduction in the Adirondack For- ests. Forestry Quart. 1:50-55. Kuenzel, John 0., and John R. McGuire. 1942. Response of Chestnut Oak Reproduction to Clear and Partial Cutting of Overstdry. Jour. For. 40:238-243. 65 McCarthy, E. F. 1933. Yellow-Peplar Characteristics, Growth and Man- agement. U. S. D. A. Tech. Bull. 356. Moore, E. B., and A. F. Waldron. 1938. A Survey of Hardwood Repro- duction in the New Jersey Highlands. Jour. For. 36:1202-1208. Ostrom, C. E. 1938. Clear Cutting of Ybung Nbrthern Hardwood Stands. Jour. For. 36:44-49. Rudolph, V. J., and C. I. Arnold. 1956. The Fred Russ Forest Cut- tings - A Progress Report. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull. 38(4):644-663. Scholz, H. F., and A. J. DeVriend. 1957. Natural Regeneration on a 2-Acre Mixed-Oak Clear Cutting Five Years After Logging. Lake States For. Exp. Sta. Paper No. 48. Sims, I. H. 1932. Establishment and Survival of Yellow-Poplar Follow- ing a Clear-Cutting in the Southern Appalachians. Jour. For. Toumey, J. W., and C. F. Korstian. 1947. Foundations of Silviculture. Second Ed. New Ybrk: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ' Tryon, H. H., and R. F. Finn. 1947. On Obtaining Natural Hardwood Regeneration. Black Rock Ferest Paper No. 22. Wahlenberg, W. G. 1956. An Early Test of Levels of Growing Stock in Appalachian Hardwoods. Jour. For. 54:106-114. Wood, 0. M. 1938. Seedling Reproduction of Oak in Southern New Jersey. Ecology 19:276-293. Zillgitt, W. M. 1950. Quality of Reproduction Following Partial Cut- ting of Northern Hardwoods. Jour. For. 48:324-325. ROOM USE ONLY HICHIGRN STQTE UNIV. LIBRQRIES 31293000890859