The Rural Voice, 2002-10, Page 35diversity of vegetative species, both
trees and smaller plants. The number
of different tree species ranged from
4-16 among the sites. Good sites
were rated as -those with an average
of 10.3, fair with 9.4 and poor with
eight or fewer.
Overall hard maple was the
dominant trees species in
upland woodlot areas and soft
maple in wet areas. Steele wasn't
surprised to see hard maple so
predominant because management
policies have selected for this
valuable wood for years. Typically in
a pre -settlement forest in this region
beech would have made up 30 per
cent of the trees but today it makes
up only 3-4 per cent. The beech tree
isn't as valuable as maple for wood,
but for the health of the forest it is
good because the beech nuts provide
food for many animals and birds.
In wetlands, soft maple has
replaced elms which were devastated
by Dutch Elm disease. Now, the
study notes, elms seldom reach a
significant size before dying.
The good news in the study is that
alien species that have become a
major concern in woodlots in
Middlesex and Oxford are not nearly
as plentiful in the Maitland Valley
watershed. In a previous 1994 study
Bowles had found highly invasive
garlic mustard in 97 per cent of
London area woodlots, common
buckthorn in 96 per cent and glossy
buckthorn in 61 per cent. Garlic
mustard was found in only 10 per
cent of sites in this study, common
buckthorn in about 20 per cent and
glossy buckthorn in less than 15 per
cent. Dominating the Maitland
woodlots were less invasive species
like herb Robert, found in more than
50 per cent of sites and bittersweet
nightshade found in nearly the same
number.
The other good news, says
Bowles, is that given time and good
management, even the damaged
woodlots can repair themselves. To
to that, however, they'll have to
overcome regulations that don't
encourage good management and too
many landowners who are indifferent
to what's going on in their own
woodlots, even to the point of
throwing away long-term profits for
short term gain.0
Nordique 1' Cordwood portable saw 3 pt hitch
A. J. HAUGH EQ., R.R. 1, Brucefield NOM 1J0
Open Mon - Fri 8.12 a.m 8 1-5 p m
Sat Sun 8 evenings by appointment
Call for the name of your local dealer:
Phone: 519-522-0248 (Adan Haugh)
Fax: 519-522-0138
WINGHAM
FORESTRY SERVICE
R R #1 Wingham
Ontario NOG 2W0
TREE MARKING FOR TIMBER
SALES OR FUEL WOOD
CALL (519) 335-6768
MURRAY HALL -
FORESTRY TECHNICIAN
O�
OUND se
Marvin L. Smith
B Sc.F. (Forestry). R.P F
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236
Providing advice and assistance with:
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber,
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodlot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
Ever wonder what you should be
doing with your woodlot?
Consider a membership in the
Huron/Perth Chapter of the
Ontario Woodlot Association
"Dedicated to the Wise and Profitable Use of
Ontario's Private Woodland Resources"
Officers of the Huron/Perth Chapter
President: Victor Roland 335-3944
Treasurer: Jim Ginn 524-2522
Directors: Roger Cook 271-1978
Gordon Pryce 527-0917
Floyd Harper 348-9854
Carl Stewart 335-3454
Norman Jefferson 348-8283
Marvin Smith 291-2236
Benefits of Membership (New members welcome)
Our quarterly Newsletter is a "must read" publication for those interested in
woodlot management - containing news items, management tips and articles on
selling timber, taxation, forest events, etc. Our new booklet "A Landowner's
Guide to Selling Timber" is now available. Along with tours and workshops, this
information will help you and your woodlot prosper.
OCTOBER 2002 31