Natural regeneration of birch in New England

Almost any method of cutting will provide some natural regeneration of birch in the northern hardwood forests of New England. However, where high proportions of yellow and paper birch are to be naturally regenerated, cutting and cultural measures must be given special consideration. Generally some form of clearcutting—patches, strips, or blocks—and seedbed preparation are the prime requisites for successful stand establishment. These appear to be simple prescriptions to follow; but in many timber-management programs the clearcutting is not complete enough, and seedbed preparation is often overlooked. Why clearcutting? Why seedbed preparation? Silvicultural studies on our Bartlett Experimental Forest at Bartlett, New Hampshire, and elsewhere in the region, demonstrate that cutting method and seedbed condition greatly influence the establishment and development of birch regeneration.