Growth of Northern Hardwoods in New England: A 25-Year Update

Abstract Twenty-five-year results from a study of four stand density levels and three percentages of sawtimber in a beech-red maple-birch-hemlock stand in New Hampshire showed that moderate stand densities of 60- to 80-ft2/ac with 25- to 30-ft2 of sawtimber produced the best growth responses. Ingrowth was dominated by beech, red maple, and hemlock. Treatments with low initial numbers of poletimber stems had well-developed J-shaped or slightly sigmoid diameter distributions after 25 years. Results apply to the first entries into northern hardwood stands ofmoderate vigor and quality.