In the late 1950's and early 1960's, a series of studies was installed in the central hardwood forest to determine if size of clearcut opening affects the growth rate and species composition of new stands. In 1991, about 30 years after cutting, stand data were collected in 89 openings ranging in size from 0.04 to 1.61 acres. Species composition varied from locations in West Virginia to those in Illinois and from Ohio to Kentucky. For example, there were more maple and birch in West Virginia than in Illinois, regardless of opening size. Some of the difference in species composition and growth rate is related to site quality but there also are differences due to size of opening. Most of the oak and hickory were on the poorer sites while yellow-poplar was more abundant on the better sites. The number of stems per acre increased with opening size; however, the number of stems of shade-tolerant species constituted a greater proportion of the stand in small openings (

This report describes the origin, design, establishment and measurement procedures and first results of a large long-term cooperative study comparing a number of widely different silvicultural regimes applied to young-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands managed for multiple objectives. Regimes consist of (1) conventional clearcutting followed by intermediate thinning; (2) retention of reserve trees to create a two-aged stand; (3) small patch cuts dispersed within a thinned matrix, repeated at approximately 15-year intervals to create a mosaic of age classes; (4) group selection within a thinned matrix on an approximate 15-year cycle; (5) continued thinning on an extended rotation; and (6) an untreated control. Each of these regimes is on operationsize units (about 30 to 70 acres each). Output variables to be evaluated include conventional timber growth and yield statistics, harvest costs, sale layout and administration costs, aesthetic effects and public acceptance, soil disturbance, bird populations, and economic aspects. Descriptive statistics and some initial results are presented for the first replicate, established in 1997-98.

S2In West Virginia, yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is abundant and is a prime candidate for increased utilization in a variety of manufacturing industries. Computer simulations are a cost-effective tool for estimating potential cutting yields from lumber. They can be used to promote increased use of yellow-poplar in the furniture, cabinet, and architectural woodworking industries and may also lead to increased utilization of the lower grades of lumber. This paper describes the data collection methods and the format of the new West Virginia yellow-poplar lumber defect database that was developed for use with computer simulation programs. The database contains descriptions of 627 boards, totaling approximately 3,800 board feet, collected in West Virginia for grades FAS, FASIF, No. 1 Common, No. 2A Common, and No. 28 Common.S3.