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A case study was conducted in a 50-yr-old bottomland oak stand in central Alabama to investigate the relationship between epicormic branches and lumber grade and value in willow oak (Quercus phellos L.). The stand had been thinned from below 7–10 yr earlier, resulting in a wide variety of epicormic branch conditions on the residual trees. A sample of 41 willow oak trees was selected before the stand was clearcut in late 1991. All merchantable logs in each tree were graded prior to felling. Average dbh of sampled trees was 19.1 in. Each tree averaged 9.5 epicormic branches on the sawlog portion of the bole. From these 41 trees, a random sample of 57 logs (31 butt logs and 26 upper logs) was shipped to a sawmill where they were sawn into lumber and graded. Epicormic branching had a large detrimental effect on log grade of individual trees. In general, as few as five epicormic branches somewhat evenly distributed on a 16 ft log was enough to cause a reduction in log grade. More importantly, defects caused by epicormic branches had a serious effect on lumber grade, particularly in the higher grades. Over 50% of the lumber volume that would have been graded as either First and Seconds or Select in the absence of epicormic branches was downgraded to No. 1 Common or below due to defects caused by epicormic branches. Based on lumber prices prevailing at the time of the study, defects caused by epicormic branches resulted in a 13% reduction in the value of the lumber produced in the final harvest. South. J. Appl. For.25(3):136–141.

A new tree classification system for southern hardwoods is described. The new system is based on the Putnam tree classification system, originally developed by Putnam et al., 1960, Management and inventory of southern hardwoods, Agriculture Handbook 181, US For. Serv., Washington, C, which consists of four tree classes: (1) preferred growing stock, (2) reserve growing stock, (3) cutting stock, and (4) cull stock. Tree classes under the Putnam system are used as a basis for planning partial cuttings and for developing marking rules in southern hardwood forests. However, there are critical problems associated with field use of this system: (1) the reserve growing stock class is too broad and poorly defined; (2) in most partial cutting operations, the timber marker must decide which reserve growing stock trees to cut and which ones to leave; (3) the timber marker must try to mark the stand to some prescribed, quantitative level of residual density; and (4) the timber marker often is forced to either leave low-quality trees or cut high-quality trees to maintain the target residual density uniformly across the stand. Overall stand quality often is compromised through use of the Putnam tree classification system and through strict adherence to the concept of stand density management. Our new tree classification system consists of five classes used only for sawtimber-sized trees: (1) preferred growing stock, (2) desirable growing stock, (3) acceptable growing stock, (4) cutting stock, and (5) cull stock; and two classes used only for poletimber-sized trees: (1) superior poletimber stock and (2) inferior poletimber stock. Data from one of our hardwood thinning studies are used to illustrate differences between the Putnam and the new tree classification systems. Potential uses and adaptations of the new tree classification system are described also.

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Preface Old growth is widely acknowledged today as an essential part of managed forests, particularly on public lands. However, this concept is relatively new, evolving since the 1970's when a grassroots movement in the Pacific Northwest began in earnest to define old growth. In response to changes in public attitude, the USDA Forest Service began reevaluating its policy regarding old-growth forests in the 1980's. Indeed, the ecological significance of old growth and its contribution to biodiversity were apparent. It was also evident that definitions were needed to adequately assess and manage the old-growth resource. However, definitions of old growth varied widely among scientists. To address this discrepancy and other old-growth issues, the National Old-Growth Task Group was formed in 1988. At the recommendation of this committee, old growth was officially recognized as a distinct resource by the Forest Service, greatly enhancing its status in forest management planning. The committee devised "The Generic Definition and Description of Old-Growth Forests" to serve as a basis for further work and to ensure uniformity between Forest Service Stations and Regions. Emphasis was placed on the quantification of old-growth attributes. At the urging of the Chief of the Forest Service, all Forest Service Stations and Regions began developing old-growth definitions for specific forest types. Because the Southern and Eastern Regions share many forest communities (together they encompass the entire Eastern United States), their efforts were combined, and a cooperative agreement was established with The Nature Conservancy for technical support. The resulting project represents the first large-scale effort to define old growth for all forests in the Eastern United States. This project helped bring the old-growth issue to public attention in the East. Definitions will first be developed for broad forest types and based mainly on published information and so must be viewed accordingly. Refinements will be made by the Forest Service as new information becomes available. This document represents 1 of 35 forest types for which old-growth definitions will be drafted. In preparing individual old-growth definitions, authors followed National Old-Growth Task Group guidelines, which differ from the standard General Technical Report format in two ways-the abstract (missing in this report) and the literature citations (listed in Southern Journal of Applied Forestry style). Allowing for these deviations will ensure consistency across organizational and geographic boundaries.