File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 46-50 (1923) (19878503194).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 46-50
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv4650penn (find matches)
Year: 1923 (1920s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forests and Waters
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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Text Appearing Before Image:
8 Tut: 13ei:(;ii-Biucii-iMaple Forest Type in Pennsylvania The BEECii-BiRCii-^rAPLE Forest Type in Pennsylvania
Text Appearing After Image:
V> ** *** :: -^ "=^ .- ^^ c <;- s "J* y ~. â¢~ 'fi -5 4:^5 ^. ~" -; V C Si ^ S !» 5- »w â »- T- ^» s â »>- = "t c _ c r~ '< lie t "â ':~ Ej;, . of the area is devoted to growing trees. Existing stands cover limited ar<'as, and belong chiefly in the farm v^^oodlot class. The term "transition zone" is used to describe the wooded region between two distinct and typical forest types. In the transition zone, trees characteristic of both the adjoining types of forest usually occur in mixture. In some instances this zone is rather narrow, and com- paratively wide in others, its width being determined largely by topography and partly by the direction of the mountain ridges. In the eastern transition zone and in parts of the southern zone be- tween hardwood types, red maple is often found in abundance. In certain sections this tree forms almost pure stands. As is the case in the northwestern section of the State, a considerable proportion of the northeastern land area also is used for agricultural purposes. Much of the southern transition zone is cut by the larger stream val- leys. In these sections a marked intermingling of types occurs, which is especially noticeable in the vicinity of Emporium, Cameron County, where the beech-birch-maple type is found on the northern faces of the hills and in the deep cool ravines; while on the warm southern faces of the hills and ridge tops the oak-chestnut type predominates. The white oak is found to be the most important indicator-tree of the oak-chestnut forest growth of northern Pennsylvania. Wherever this tree occurs in considerable numbers in Pennsylvania, other oaks, chestnut, and additional hardwoods, typically southern in range, are also found. Such stands are assigned to the oak-chestnut growth, while those containing few or no specimens of white ucik usually are classified within the beech-birch-maple type. WHERE THE BEECH-BIRCH-MAPLE TYPE OCCURS IN PENNSYLVANIA The beech-birch-maple type of forest is distinctly northern, and is very important in the Lake States, the Adirondacks, and in New P^ng- land. The most southerly typical and extensive beech-birch-maple f(»rests are found on the highlands of northern Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania the beech-birch-maple type reaches its best develoj)- nient on the fresh well-drained fertile soils of the north-central section, ai elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 feet. Owing to the range in elevation, the variation in soils, and other growth factors, as well as tiie intermingling of the oak-chestnut with the beech-birch-mai)le in the tiMnsition zones, it is difficult to fix definite geographic boundaries for the latter type. In north-central Pennsylvania, where this type of forest now appears aiiiiost to the exclusion of other forest types, it occupies tlie highlands, â¦'^tending in a practically unbroken stand westward and eastward

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