Conversion of Cordwood to Future Sawtimber

On dry upland sites such as the one pictured, hardwoods often do not grow vigorously and are likely to develop crooked stems, like those in the stand on the far right. Pines, on the other hand, can grow quite well and produce high-quality timber on such sites, provided they are not crowded or overtopped by the hardwoods.

With some effort, a hardwood stand can be converted to pine or other conifer species. In the center, the hardwood forest has been cut for cordwood and the slash burned, and now two crews are at work planting conifers.

Today such labor-intensive tree planting is not cost-effective on most sites in central New England and, with the exception of Christmas tree farms, is seldom undertaken.