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fOREST fXP£RlffiEOT STRTIOR 

_f;..n_[ u_m_b_uA- J:£ _J9_]LL1L 

PHILIP A. BRIEGLEB, DIRECTOR 

SEPTEMBER 1952 
FOREST STATISTICS OF KENTUCKY 

These people helped to collect and compile data and to prepare 

this report: 

R. Ko Winters, Chief, Divis' ion of Forest Economics 

E. V. Ro&eTts, In Charge, Forest Survey 

Field Inventory · M. E. Becker, Supervisor; t. J. Schmit~, J. E. Wiggins, D. A. 

Bernstein, E. P. Van Ar.sdel, H. A. Knudsen, W. T. Plass, E. '- F. 

Youngblood, B. H. Mauer, K. E. Wojahn, R. ' E. Doyle, E. E. 

Reynolds, T. A. Harrington, G. N. Semmens, P. t. Thornton, 

W. B. Met calf, R. A. Harmon, J. M. Smith 

Photo Interpretation 

K. E. Moessner; Sqpervisor; K. L. Quigley, 0. K. Hutchiso_n, 

Ca E. Jensen, F. D. Brunson 

Drafting_ · K •. W. Chrisemer, R. W. Smith 

•":': 

Drain Survey · .:[ o T. Morgan 

Growth and Statistical P:r.ocedures 

G. L • . Sc.hnur 

Statistical Computat ions 

Lake F. Comp:ton, Margaret Peirsol, Mary Lou 'Sterner, Margaret 

Large, Julia M. Humm.ell, Norma J. Crandall, Violet Powell 

Editor 

K. G. Johnson 

Stenographic Service . Edit~ D. Clark, · Virginia D. Simone, Virginia· K. Tomlin.son 

Coopera1t ing Agencies 

TVA Divislon of Forestry Relations ·w. w. Jolly, Chief, Forest Economics Section; E. F. Olson, 

A. Ro Bateson, E. E. Ahler, R .. L. Hanson, J. H. Hinton, 

J. S. Kring, Ho Eo Murphy, R. L. Schne11, W. fi.· Ogden, 

The lma Bible · 

Kentucky Department of Conservat ion, The Divisi.on of Forestry 

lie Bo Ne.wland, Director; W. W. King, District Forester 

Un:iversity of Kentucky, The Kentucky Extension Service 

R. R. Ridert Assi,stant County Agent . .. · . 

it 

( 

I , -. 
FOREWORD 

The Forest Survey is a Nation-wide activity of the Forest 

Service. The fivefold purpose of the Forest Survey is (1) t o make 

a field inventory of the present supply of standing timber; (2 ) to 

find out how fast this supply is being increased through growth; 

(3) to find out how fast it is being diminished through industrial 

and domestic uses, windfal l, fire, disease, and other causes; 

(4) to determine the present consumption and the pr obable future 

trend in requirements for forest products; and (5) to interpret 

and correlate these findings with existing and anticipated economic conditions, as an aid in formulating both private and public 

policies for use of land suitable for forest production : 

The Forest Survey is conducted in the various r egions by 

the forest experiment stations of the Forest Service. In Kentucky 

the project is .directed by the Central States Forest Experiment 

Station with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. 

This Survey Release presents the more significant preliminary statistics on the forest area, timber volume, timber growth, 

and timber drain for the State of Kentucky. Later, an analytical 

report for the State will be published which will interpret statistics on forest area, timber volume, growth , and drain in the 

light of existing and anticipated economic conditions. 
' 

. CONTENTS 

Significant forest statistic s for the State of Kentucky....... 1 

Significance of the forest statistics •• o ••• ~ • •• • • • •••• • ••••••• 6 

State summary tables" e II. 0. 0 0 0 <) 0 0 •• II II e . 0 0 f) It 0 () 0. i. 0 •• (I 0 0 ••••• 0 Ci." 8 

Forest and nonfor est area by regions ••••••••••••••••••• 9 

Comme r cial forest area by owne rship class • •• ••••• ••• •• • 10 

Commercial forest ar ea by forest type and stand-· 

size class ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••• 11 

Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by 

species and st and-size class ••••••••••••••••••••.••• 12 

Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by 

species and tree=diarneter c l ass •••• •••••••• ••••••••• 13 

Hardwood saw-timber volume by species group and 

log adeee eo oo 0110~••0Qeoo•enoc:>soo•e••o.;>oeedl•oo11•0•~ 14 

Total cubic volume of sound wood on commercial forest area by species and class of material ••••••••••• 15 

Cubic volume of gr owing stock on commerc ial forest 

area by species and stand-size c lass ••••••••.••••••• 16 

Cubic volume of growing stock on commercial forest 

area by stand-size c l ass and tree-diameter class ••• • 17 

Average volume per ac r e by stand-size claQs ••• •. ••• •••• 18 

Net growth and normal mort a lity of gr owing stock 

on commercial forest area by specie s gr oup ••.• •• • • •• 19 

Commodity drain on growing stock on commercial 

forest area by product and species group •• ••••• ••••• 19 
Supplementary tableso. Cl Cl 0. Cl c 0 •• Ge. 0. Cl ••• 0 ••••• Cl. 0 ••••••• Cl •••• 8 20 

Land area by major cl asses of land •••••••.••••••••.•••• 21 

Commercial forest land area by ownership and 

stand~size classes •.. uoo9 • o••••••••o••••o•••••••e••• 22 

Area of commercial forest land by major forest 

typeSo•••••<>•ooooe.•eco••••••••o•••••o•••••••••••••• 23 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest land by stand-size class .••••••••• 24 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest l and by ownership class •••••.••••• 25 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial fore st l.and by species ••..•••• o •••••••••• 26 

Net volume of live saw t imber on commercial forest 

land by diameter class gr oups and species ••••••••••• 27 

Net volume of all timber on commercial forest land 

by class of material and species group •••••••.•••••• 28 

Net annual growt h, annual mortality, and commodity 

drain on live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest land by species gr oup ••••••••••••• 29 

Total output of timber products and commodity drain 

on live saw timber and growing stock ••••••••• • •••••• 30 

Forest Survey procedure ••••••••••• ••••• •••••••••••••••••.••••• 31 

Accuracy of data •••• ••••••••••.••••.•••• ••••.••.•••••••••••••• 33 

Explanation of terms usedo .... • .•• .. .. o., •••••• ".Clo •••••••••••• 34 

Species listedo••oet•••••o• • •••l;)•ooo••oo •" • • e • •••••••o••••••••• 38 
FOREST SURVEY REGIONS IN KENTUCKY 

CUMBERLAND NATIONAL FOREST 

. ., 
l, 

. 

SIGNIFICANT FOREST STATISTICS FOR THE 

TOTAL LAND AREA 

All other 

10°/o 

Forest land 

45% 

Croplond 

45°/o 

STATE OF KENTUCKY 

AREA 

Forty-five percent (11.5 million 

acres) of Kentucky 0 s total land area is 

classed ~7 forest land . All of the forest lanctl; is of commercial importance 

though about 51,000 acres are reserved 

from timber use . The proportion of land 

in forest varies from as little as 2 percent in Bourbon County in the Bluegrass 

Region to over 90 percent in some counties 

of the Cumberland and Eastern Regions. 

FOREST LANO OWNERSHIP 

Ninety-four percent of the forest 

land is privately owned. About half of 

the privately owned forest area is on 

farms. Most of the publicly owned forest 

land is in the Cumberland National Forest . 

The State owns only about 53,000 acres of 

forest land. 

Form 

48% 

FOREST AREA BY 

STAND-SIZE CLASS 

Large 

saw timber 

24% 

Smoll 

sow timber 

19% 

Pole timber 

36% 

46°/o 

Forty-three percent of the commercial forest area supports saw-timber stands. 

These are classed as large and small, depending upon the size of trees making up 

the volume. More than half of the saw-timber 

area is classed as large saw timber and 

averages over 5,000 board feet per acre. 

The small saw-timber stands average 3,000 

board feet per acre . The .large saw-timber 

area is more concentrated in the two eastern regions where 1.7 million acres of this 

class are found. 

Pole-timber stands make up a little over one-third. of the 

forest area. These stands average 432 cubic feet per acre. The 

nonstocked area is of relatively small importance in Kentucky. 

Stands of this class average 52 cubic feet per acre. Given adequate 

protection from fire and grazing, most nonstocked areas will eventual~y become satisfactorily stocked. 

1./ For definitions of terms used see page 34. 
FOREST AREA BY 

FOREST TYPES 

Oak-hickory 

45% 

Mi•ed 

More than 75 percent of t he forest 

land i s included in two types--oak-hickory 

and mixed hardwoods. Various oaks and 

hickories comprise 85 percent of the oakhickory t ype whi ch is found mainly on the 

drier upland sites. The mixed hardwoods 

type, which occurs mainly on the moist 

but well-dr ained sites, is usually fou.nd 

on cool , l ower slopes and in coves. 

Pr incipal spec ies of this type include 

yellow-poplar, white and red oaks, hickor y, bee ch, map ~ ash, basswood, elm, 

walnut, and hemlock. The import ant pine 

and oak-pine t ypes of Kentucky oc cur 

mainly in the Cumber land Region and are most conc entrated on the 

Cumberland National For est . The ot her types recognized by the 

Forest Survey are widely scattered t hr oughout the State. 

SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

Of the 24.7 billion boa rd feetY 

(Int. 1/4-inch log scale ) of saw timber, 

86 percent is on ar eas classed as saw 

timber. About 59 percent i s on areas 

classed as large saw timber. The heaviest concentration of saw-timber volume 

is in the Eastern Region where the forest area averages 3, 349 board feet per 

acre. The average volume per acre for 

the state is 2,154 boar d fee t. 

SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

BY STAND-SIZE CLASS 

Large saw-timber 

I ~le-timber cla11 

12% 

Seedling, 

sapling, 

and 

nonstocked 

claaa 

59% 

Small saw- timber 

class 

27% 

2} The saw-timber volume i s substantially increased over 

the figure estimated for the 1945 for est r eappraisal report; the 

forest area is decreased slightl y . Present f i gures differ from 

the 1945 estimates, partly because different def~niti ons of forest 

area and commercial vo l ume were used , but mainly because insuff icient information was avail able in 1945 t o make a more accurate 

estimate. The data presented here ar e based upon the first thorough 

and sy.stematic survey of Kentucky forests. 

2 
SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

Ninety-two percent of the boardf oot volume is in hardwood species, with 

var ious species of oak comprising 47 

percent of the total. Species that are 

often cl assed as soft hardwoods, such 

as cottonwood, yellow-poplar, basswood, 

and gum, make up about one-fourth of the 

volume . Over hree~f ourths of the softwood volume is shortleaf and Virginia 

pine . 

Nearly 85 percent of t he hardwood saw-timber volume i s in ow~ 

quality (grade 3) l ogs. For the most 

part, hardwood trees will not cont ain 

grade l and 2 sawlogs until t hey have 

reached the 16-inch d.b.h. class. 

HARDWOOD SAW-TIMBER 

VOLUME BY LOG GRADE 

\ Accordingly, 8 billion board feet of Log 9rade 3 

the 19 billion board feet in grade 3 M% 

sawlogs are in trees that are too small 

to qualify for a higher grade . Many of 

these trees will contain high-qua lity 

logs after they have had a chance to 

grow. Some of the remaining 11 billion 

board feet in grade 3 sawlogs i s in top logs that also are too 

small to qualify for a higher grade . Mu ch of the low-quality 

volume, however, is in logs that ar e too rough and defec'tive ever 

to qualify as grade l and 2 sawlogs. 

HIGH-QUALITY HARDWOOD 

VOLUME BY REGIONS 

EostGrn 

39% 

Nearly 40 percent of the highqualit y (grade l and 2) volume is in the 

Eastern Region even though this region 

contains l ess than 25 per cent of the 

boar d-foot timber volume . Much of the 

large timber in this region remains because it was considered economically 

inaccessible at one time. Seventy-five 

percent of the board-foot volume in the 

Eastern Region is in trees 16 inches or 

larger in di ameter. 

In addition to the large vo l ume of l ow-qua lity sawlogs, 

1,686 million cubic feet of sound wood occur s in cull trees. About 

one of every five saw-timber-size trees is a sound or rotten cull, 

occupying valuable growing space in the stands. 

3 
Sawlog quality of existing stands is greatly influenced by 

past stand treatment, espe cially cutting practices, fire , and 

grazing . Commercial ope r ators primarily concerned with immediate 

returns naturally tend to high-grade uneven-aged , mixed-hardwood 

stands. This practice of cutting only cer tain desired species 

and only the best trees of these species, r esults in a gradual 

stand deterioration which is most noticeable in the low quality 

of t rees left in the stand . The quality and character of Kentucky 

forests will not improve until cutting practices designed to grow 

large, high-qua l ity trees are accepted and unti l the stands are 

protected from f ire and grazing. 

GROWING STOCK VOLUME 

The growing stock , which includes al l sound trees 5. 0 

inches d.b.h. and larger, has a vo l ume of 6, 570 million cubic feet. 

This is an average of 574 cubic feet per acre of commercial forest 

land in the state. The best stocki ng, based on the average cubicfoot volume of growing stock per acre , is in thR Western Region 

which has 666 cubic feet per acre; the Blueg a~s Region, with 387 

cubic feet per acre , has t he poorest stocking. 

w 

:2 

3 15 

0 

> 

5 

0 

4 

VOLUME BY DIAMETER CLASSES 

6 8 10 12 14 16 

About 42 percent 

of the growing stock 

vol ume is in trees of the 

inc , 8-inch, and 10-

inch diameter classes. 

Broken down into 2-inch 

diamet er classes, the 

gr eat est proportion of 

the cubic-foot volume 

shows up in the 10-inch 

class. Much of the volume in pole-size trees 

i s found on saw-timber 

areas; only about onefour th of the growingstock vo lume is on poletimber areas. In general, 

the desirable commercial 

species are as well or 

better represented in the 

pole-size trees as they 

are in the trees of sawt imber size. 

'· 
TREE STOCKING BY DIAMETER CLASS 

250.-------------------------------, 

200 

w 5 150 <l 

"' w 

a. 

"' w 

"' ;;; 100 ::::J 

z 

50 

The forest area 

averages 364 trees per 

acre. About 80 percent 

of t hese are in the 2-

inch and 4- inch diameter 

classes. The 6-inch, 8-

inch, and 10- inch diameter classes have more 

than three times as many 

t rees as the 12-inch and 

larger diameter classes. 

While the growing- stock 

volume indicates a generally understocked condit ion of the forest areas, 

the spe c ies of t r ees in 

the stands and the number of trees in the small 

ol----1--L.--'--...._---L __ ..._::=:i::;:::.==..__,___..__.,,_.......__,.J diameter class es indi cate 2 4 6 8 IO 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 i a+ 

as.H. cL·Ass Hnchcsl that for the most part, 

the 

ing 

volume of Kentucky forests could be built up rapidly by applysound management practices. 

GRONTH-DRAIN BALANCE 

The tot al annual net 

growth of Kentucky ' s forest 

in 1949 was 1,189 million 

board feet and the dr ain in 

1948 was only 734 million 

board feet. (For purposes of 

comparison, the 1948 drain 

figure can be considered 

representative of the total 

drain in 1949.) Furthermore, 

each of the principal spec ies 

groups shows an exce ss of 

growth over drain . However, 

the over-all picture i s not 

as favorable as these statistics would make i t appear. 

SOFTWOODS 

WHITE OAKS 

RED ANO 

BLACK OAKS 

SOFT 

HARDWOODS 

ALL OTHER 

HARDWOODS 

SAW TIMBER GROWTH 8 DRAIN 

BY SPECIES GROUP 

50 10 0 150 200 

Ml LLI ON BOARD FEET 

§I GROWTH 

E!lill DRAIN 

250 

5 
GROWTH 

DRAIN 

HARDWOOD 

BY 

GROWTH a DRAIN 

LOG GRADE 

200 400 

MILLION 

600 800 

BOARD FEET 

1000 

A breakdown of the 682 mi l l i on board f eet of hardwood drain 

into sawlog grades shows that about 264 mi llion board feet were in 

high-quality (grade l and 2) sawlogs. Study of hardwood growth 

shows that the annual increase in grade .1 and 2. sawlog volume is 

only about 180 million board feet . Thus we have a sizeable deficit 

in the growth of high-qual i ty hardwood timber. Softwoods are growing annually more than twice as much saw timber as is being cut. 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOREST STATISTICS 

The forests of Kentucky are of sufficient importance in area 

and character to materially affect the welfare of the State and 

also to contribute considerably to the national w.e.lfare. While the 

State is vitally interested in the wise use and development of its 

forests, the eventual outcome is in t he hands of the farmers and 

other private owners who control 94 percent of the fore st area. 

Any program designed to improve the forests of Kentucky must arouse 

the interest and enlist the cooperation of the private owners. 

The forests of Kentucky are understocked. This is indicated 

by the number of trees per acre and by _the average of 2,154 board 

feet of saw timber and 574 cubic feet of gr owing stock per fore st 

acre. It is reasonable to expect that Kentucky forests could 

eventually support 2 to 3 times as much saw timber and growing 

stock if properly managed and protected from fire and grazing. 

6 

.. 
Timber is not being cut too rapidly--rather, the forests 

aren ' t growing enough, and too much of the amount being grown is 

on low-quality trees. The present growth, averaging 104 board 

feet per acre, is only one-half to one-third as much as the stands 

could be growing. Increasing the growth to 200 to 300 board feet 

per acre would more than compensate for the present drain of highquali ty timber, even if the present relationship between high-grade 

and low-grade volume remained unchanged. However, substantial increase in volume growth is unlikely without also improving the 

composition and quality of the stands by removing the cull trees 

and merchantable trees of relatively low quality. 

Besides being understocked in both board-foot and cubic-foot 

volume, the stands contain a high proportion of low-quality and 

cull timber. About one of every five saw-timber-size trees is an 

unmerchantable cull. Woodland grazing, repeated burning, and "highgrading" cutting practices have all contributed to the present condition of the stands. Woodland owners and woods operators must be 

convinced that these practices are detrimental to their interests. 

Economical ways must be developed to enable the woodland owners 

to remove the cull and low-quality trees from competition in the 

stands. Forests of Kentucky are not likely to improve appreciably 

in quality until most of the forest land is protected from fire and 

grazing and until most of the forest landowners and woods operators 

accept improved cutting practices. 

7 
8 

• ' 

STATE SUMMARY TABLES 
Table lo--Forest and nonforest area b;t: regions 2 1949 

Total 

Regions : la~ . . Forest area ~ Nonf orest area 

are 1 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres 

Western 2,196 725 33 1,471 67 

Western 

Coalfield 5,492 1,792 33 3,700 67 

Pennyroyal 4,772 2, 119 44 2,653 56 

Bluegrass 5,649 1,221 22 4,428 78 

Cumberland 5,268 3,838. 73 1,430 27 

Eastern 2,136 1,802 84 334 16 

All regions 25,513 11,497 45 14,016 55 . 

11 Source: Area of the United St at es 1950, u. s. Bureau of the 

Census .• Does not include 339,840 acres listed by Bureau of 

the Census as inland waters. 

9 
Table 2.--Comrnercial forest ar ea by ownership class, 1949 

Ovmership class 

Federal: 

National forest 

Other 

Total 

State 

County and Municipal 

Private 

All ownerships 

Commercial forest areal/ 

Thousand 

acres 

406 

217 

623 

53 

(y) 

10,770 

ll,446 

Percent 

3.5 

1.9 

5. 4 

.5 

(y) 

94.l 

100.0 

.!/ Does not include 45,000 acres of forest land in Mammoth Cave 

National Park and 6,000 acres in state and municipal ownerships 

that are reserved from commerc i al timber use. 

Y Totals 590 acres for the state , which is included in the 10,770 

thousand acres in private ownership. 

10 

·. 
Table 3.-- Comrnercial forest area by forest type 

and stand-size class, 1949 

Forest type 

Pine 

Redcedarhardwoods 

Oak-pine 

Oak- hickory 

White oak 

Beech-maple 

Mixed hardwoods 

Bottomland 

All types 

Percent 

Tot al 

Large: Small: p 1 :Seedling: N 

o e- on-

: s aw- : saw- : t . b : and : t k d 

t . b t• b im er 1. s oc e 

; im er: im er: t d : s ap i ng: t d 

s an s s an s :stands:stands: ~ stands : 

Thousand Per- - -

acres cent 

- - Thousand acres- -

234 

490 

726 

5,186 

311 

393 

3,603 

503 

2.1 

4.3 

6. 3 

45. 3 

2. 7 

3.4 

31.5 

4.4 

4 

6 

50 

1, 321 

27 

202 

906 

237 

116 

19 

256 

1,109 

117 

81 

388 

125 

80 

275 

220 

1, 868 

167 

80 

1,235 

115 

11,446 2 , 753 2,21 1 4 , 040 

100.0 24.l 19.3 35.3 

34 

125 

166 

687 

20 

786 

12 

1, 830 

16. 0 

65 

34 

201 

10 

288 

14 

612 

5.3 

11 
Table 4.--Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by species 

and stand-size class, 1949 

Species 

Shortleaf pine 

Virginia pine 

Other softwoods 

Post-oak group 

Chestnut oak 

White oak 

Black oak 

Total 

: Large: Small: p 1 :Seedling: N 

o e- on-

: saw- : saw- :t. b : and : t k d 

t . b t• b im er 1. s oc e 

: im er: im er: t d : sap ing: t d s an s s an s :stands:stands: : stands : 

Million Per- -

bd. ft. cent 

Million board feet111,039 4.2. 

- ,523 2.1 

.Y392 1.6 

6ll 2. 5 

2,256 9.2 

2,315 9. 4 

4,121 16.7 

198 

13 

276 

312 

1,632 

1,129 

2,319 

697 

380 

51 

151 

400 

817 

124 

114 

19 

10 

1 

12 

31 

31 

62 

1 

6 

7 

Northern red oak 1,526 6.2 

Other red oaks 810 3.3 

969 

512 

1,221 

386 

209 

713 

125 

64 

129 

193 

326 

514 

167 

89 

3 

12 

5 

1 

Hickory 

Ash 

Elm 

Cottonwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Basswood 

Sweet gum 

Blackgum 

Sugar maple 

Soft maple 

Sycamore 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods 

All species 

Percent 

2,631 10.7 

418 1. 7 

357 1. 4 

124 .5 

1,830 7.4 

509 2.1 

462 1. 9 

584 2.4 

526 2.1 

326 1.3 

347 

1,959 

266 

723 

1.4 

7. 9 

1.1 

2. 9 

1,562 

246 

187 

105 

1,164 

434 

271 

391 

388 

187 

202 

1,545 

127 

390 

97 

4 

413 

53 

122 

12.5 

91 

75 

84 

286 

71 

178 

308 

46 

63 

13 

213 

22 

65 

59 

26 

62 

58 

96 

51 

130 

24,655 14,559 6,749 2~932 

100.0 59.0 27.4 11.9 

46 

9 

1 

35 

1 

9 

21 

2 

2 

25 

14 

18 

352 

1.4 

2 

1 

1 

1 

5 

3 

i 

7 

3 

7 

63 

0.3 

l/ About 6 percent white pine. Y Approximately 74 percent hemlock, 16 percent redcedar, and 10 

percent baldcypress • 

. 12 
Table 5.--Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by SEec ies 

and tree-diameter cla~ 1949 

28 

Species Total. 10 12·-14 : 16-18: 20-22: 24-26:inches 

:inches ginches:inches:inches:inches: and 

:larger 

Million board feet- ~ 

Short.leaf pine 1,039 171 527 220 92 29 

Virginia pine 523 184 292 47 

Other softwoods 392 51 100 104 73 49 15 

Post-oak group 611 307 188 87 22 7 

Chestnut oak 2.9256 566 513 412 336 429 

White oak 2,315 l~ 17i 604 255 148 137 

Black oak 4, 121 1~628 1,512 654 286 41 

Northern red oak 1,526 413 516 2.73 181 143 

Other red oaks 810 267 264 150 85 44 

Hickory 29631 lj219 720 379 197 116 

Ash 418 155 129 77 27 30 

Elm 357 170 75 60 25 27 

Cottonwood 124 28 43 31 19 3 

Yellow-poplar 1,830 636 681 315 174 24 

Basswood 509 122 228 129 30 

Sweet gum 462 186 · J.67 66 30 13 

Blackgum 584 227 176 107 61 13 

Sugar maple 526 163 118 122 59 64 

Soft maple 326 145 117 49 5 10 

Sycamore 347 89 77 77 54 50 

Beech 1,959 411 503 470 342 233 

Black walnut 266 144 78 44 

Other hardwoods 723 314 171 140 38 60 

All species 24,655 406 9 ,280 7,2.51 4,062 2,168 1, 488 

Percent 100.0 l. 7 37.6 29.4 16.5 8.8 6. 0 

13 
Table 6. --Hardwood saw-timber volume by species gr oup and log grade , 1949 

Species group Volume Log grade l Log gr ade 2 Log gr ade 3 

Million Million Percent Million Percent Million Percent 

bd. ft . bd. ft. bd . ft. bd. ft. 

White o~ 5, 182 347 6.7 547 10. 6 4,288 82.7 

Red oak 2 6,457 267 4.2 551 8.5 5, 639 87 .3 

Other hardwoods .11, 062 694 6.3 1,132 10. 2 9, 236 83 . 5 

All hardwooels 22,701 1,308 5. 8 2,230 9.8 19, 163 84.4 

1/ Includes white oak, chestnut oak, and post-oak group. 

y Includes black oak, northern red oak, and other red oak s. 

... 
Table 7.--Total cubic volume of sound wood on commercial forest 

area by species and class of material, 1949 

Species Total 

Growing stock 

Saw- : PoleTota l : timber:timber 

: trees ; trees 

. Tops : C 11 

• d • u an 2 I 

: limbJJ:trees£/ 

- - Million cubic feet- -

Shortleaf pine 

Virginia pine 

Other softwoods 

Post-oak group 

Chestnut oak 

White oak 

Black oak 

Northern red oak 

Other red oaks 

Hickory 

Ash 

Elm 

Cottonwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Basswood 

Sweet gum 

Blackgum 

Sugar maple 

Soft maple 

Sycamore 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods 

Noncommercial 

222.8 

177.0 

120.9 

311.8 

881.0 

1,018.2 

1,513.6 

479.4 

275.2 

1,133.9 

22803 

241.5 

34.9 

606.1 

172.3 

184.8 

263.3 

274.1 

248.2 

117.6 

1,008.5 

128.3 

531.1 

222.l 

174.8 

ll 7o 7 

214.2 

511. l 

744.8 

993.4 

311.8 

18509 

809.7 

157.9 

160.8 

2.2.. 2 

406.8 

101.6 

13L9 

146.2 

161.0 

126.9 

79.l 

353.9 

91.0 

345.0 

17502 

96.6 

77.8 

98.3 

344.1 

360.5 

652.1 

237.0 

·127. 5 

411.4 

67.4 

56o7 

19.5 

283.2 

77.5 

73.l 

94.4 

80.0 

51.5 

53.2 

290.0 

43.0 

114.4 

46.9 

78.2 

39.9 

115.9 

167.0 

384.3 

341.3 

74.8 

58.4 

398.3 

90.5 

104.l 

2.7 

12~.6 

24.1 

58.8 

51.8 

81.0 

75.4 

25.9 

63.9 

48.0 

230.6 

--

55.l 

192.8 

202.0 

365.3 

132.6 

71.5 

230.4 

37.7 

31.7 

10.9 

158.7 

43.4 

40.8 

52.8 

44.9 

28.8 

29.8 

162.4 

23.9 

64.l 

0.7 

2.2 

3.2 

42.5 

177.l 

71.4 

154.9 

35.0 

17.8 

93.8 

32.7 

49.0 

1.8 

40.6 

27.3 

12.1 

64.3 

68.2 

92.5 

8.7 

492.2 

13.4 

122.0 

species 62.6 62.6 

All species.2/ 10,235.4 6,569.8 3,884.4 2,685.4 1,979.6 1,686.0 

Percent 100.0 64.2 38.0 26.2 19.3 16.5 

J) Merchantable hardwood saw timber only. 

2:/. Includes sound portion of tops and limbs of cull trees. 

]/ Does not include volume of standing dead chestnut estimated to 

be 134.0 million cubic feeto 

15 
Table 8.--Cubic volume of growin,9_,stock on commercial forest area 

bJ:: seecies and stand-size class 2 1949 

: Large g Smal l Pole- :Seedling: Non- . saw- ~ saw~ : and : Species Total stocked . timber :timber: timber stands : sapling: stands 

:st ands:stands : stands 

Million Per- - - - Million cubic feet - - ·cu. ft . cent 

Short leaf pine 222.l 3.3 33.3 .1 41.7 41.4 5.4 0 .3 

Virginia pine 174.8 2. 7 3. 6 101.4 62. 8 5.9 1. 1 

other softwoods 1170 7 1.8 53.9 15.1 45.6 2.0 1.1 

Post-oak group 214.2 3.3 58.2 60.2. 89.5 4.4 1.9 

Chestnut oak 511 . 1 7.8 285.5 103. 0 116. 2 6.4 

White oak 744.8 11.3 2.32.6 263.7 233.2 ll.3 4. 0 

Black oak 993. 4 15.l 416. 8 293. 4 264.3 18.0 .9 

Northern red oak 311.8 4.7 170.8 88.0 . 52.2 .6 .2 

Other red oaks 185.9 2.8 92.2 50. 0 42.0 l. 7 

Hickory 809. 7 12.3 339.6 231 . 0 222.4 14.7 2.0 

Ash 157.9 2.4 61.2 39.8 53 . 7 .6 2.6 

Elm 160.8 2.5 51.8 36.1 63.7 4.1 5.1 

Cottonwood 22.2 . 3 18.0 . 9 3.1 .1 .1 

Ye llow-poplar 406.8 6.2 207.3 97. 7 92.5 8.3 1. 0 

Basswood 101.6 1.6 80.0 14. 8 6.7 • l 

Sweet gum 131.9 2.0 51. 3 39.l 40.5 .5 . 5 

Blackgum 146.2 2.2 78.3 36. 9 24.4 5.6 1. 0 

Sugar mapl e 161 . 0 2. . 5 87.6 40. 0 28 .• 9 4.2 .3 

Soft maple 126.9 1.9 57.2 36. 6 31.2 l. 7 .2 

Sycamore 79 . l 1.2 33.8 16.9 24.9 1.9 1.6 

Beech 353.9 5.4 256 .4 64.2 26.4 5.9 1. 0 

Black walnut 91.0 1.4 30.0 20 .3 33.2 4.4 3.1 

other hardwoods 345.0 5.3 ll3.5 68.9 145.3 13.7 3.6 

All species 6,569.8 2,812.9 1,859. 7 1,744.l 121.5 31.6 

Percent 100.0 42.8 28 . 3 26.5 1.9 0. 5 

16 
....... 

.....,J 

Table 9.--Cubic volume of 

Stand-size class Total 

- - - -

Large saw-timber 2,812.9 

Small saw- timber 1,859.7 

Pole-timb:n 1,744.l 

Seedling and sapling 121.5 

Nonstocked 31.6 

All classes 6,569.8 

Percent 100.0 

growing 

6-8 

inches 

326.9 

423.7 

803.2 

45.4 

12.6 

1,611.8 

24.5 

stock on commercial forest area b~ stand- size class 

and tree-diameter class 2 1949 

10 12-14 16-18 20-22 24-26 :28 inches 

inches inches inches inches inches and 

lar~er 

- - - - -Million cubic feet- ------ - - - - 264.9 474.6 741.8 506 .. l 21}4.l 204.5 

379.8 725.2 259.5 55.2 12.3 4.0 

486.6 313.l 101.6 31. 3 3.0 5.3 

21.6 22.1 16.l 11.4 4.9 

9.0 5.8 1.9 .3 2.0 

1,161.9 1,540.8 1,120.9 604.3 316. 3 213.8 

17. 7 23.4 17. l 9.2 4.8 3.3 
Table 10 --~erage volume per acre by stand- size class, 194~ 

Stand-size class 

Large saw-timber stands 

Small saw-timber stands 

Pole-timber stands 

Seedling and sapling stands 

Nonstocked stands 

All classes 

1./ Growing stock only. 

18 

Average volume per ac r e 

Board feet 

5,288 

3,052 

726 

192 

103 

2,154 

Cubic feetY 

1, 021. 8 

841.1 

431 . 7 

66 .4 

51.6 

574 . 0 
Table 11. --~t qrowth and no·rmal mortality of fil:OWing stock 

on commercial forest area by species 2roup, 1949 

Live saw-timber volume Total growing stock 

Species Current :Current annual: Current :Current annual 

group annual normal annual normal 

net growth mortality: net growth mortality: 

Million board feet Million cubic feet 

Softwoods 133 7o0 20.9 2.0 

Hardwoods 1,056 76o0 246.4 23.9 

Total 1,189 83.0 267.3 25o9 

Table 12.--Commodity drain on growing stock on commercial forest 

ar ea by product and species group, 1948 

Product :Live saw-timber volume: Total growinq stock 

Softwood Hardwood Softwood Hardwood 

- Million board feet- -Million cubic feetSaw logs 49.7 501.4 7 .1 71.2 

Fuelwood 104.5 44.5 

Fence posts 2o J. 4.8 2.8 5.4 

Veneer bolts .3 10.5 • 1 1.4 

Cooperage bolts 49.5 6.9 

Pulpwood • 1 .7 • 1 1.2 

Handle bolts 6.1 .9 

Hewn ties 3.1 o5 

Round mine timbers 16.5 

Misc. timbers 1.0 .1 2.0 

Total 52.2 681 . 6 10.2 150.5 

19 
20 

SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES 

The following tables summarize the foregoing 

data in a form that will be found in all Forest 

Survey state or subregional reports. Readers can 

thus combine or compare these data with similar 

data for other areas. 
. , 

T&bl~ 13.--Lend ~re~ by major classes of land, 1942 

Clau of land 

' 

Thousand acre§ 

F~ata 

Commercial 

NonGOOJmQrciala 

Reserved from commercial timber use 

Unproductive for timbQr use 

/ 

Total forest land 

Nonf oNst 

Total, all cla~ses 

· .. .. · . · .... , .. . . ,, . ... · ... \ ,; 

11,446 

~l 

0 

11,497 

14,016 

25,513 

21 
TablQ 14.--Corrunercial forest land area by ownershiQ 

and stand-size classes, 1949 

.Qr/nership class 

Saw- : Pole- : Seedling : N 

Total : timber: tirnber:and sapling: t ~n~ stands: stands: stands :s oc e 

FedQral: 

National forest 

Indian 

other 

Total 

State 

406 

0 

217 

623 

53 

County and municipal (~) 

Private 10,770 

'· All ownerships 11,446 

227 

0 

101 

328 

28 

4,608 

4,964 

Thousand acres- -

148 

0 

80 

228 

18 

3,794 

4,040 

31 

0 

31 

62 

1,763 

1,830 

0 

0 

5 

2 

605 

612 

1) Includes areas not classified elsewhere. 

lJ Totals 590 acres for the state and is included in the 10,770 

thousand acres in private ownership. 

22 

; 
e 

Table 15.--Area of commercial forest land 

by major forest types, 1949 

For~st type Thousand acres 

Pin~ 234 

Redc~ar-hardwoods 490 

Oak-pine 726 

Oak-hickory ~,186 

White oak 311 

Beech-maple 393 

/ 

Mix~d hardwoods 3,603 

Bottomland 503 

Total 11,446 

23 
Table 16.-NBt volMjj?TI of H.100 Mm tj1mb0r and growing st ock on 

s.om.rnerc i al fo r e st ly.nd by stand-size class, 1942 

St and-size class 

Saw-timber st~s 

Pole-timber stands 

Seedling and sapling stands 

Nonstocked and _,other areas 

not classified elsewhere 

Total 

24 

Se.w timber 

Mi llion bd . 

21,308 

2,932 

352 

63 

24,655 

Growing stock 

ft. Million cu. ft,. 

4,672.6 

1,744.l 

121.5 

31.6 

6,569.8 
Table 17.--Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock QO 

commercial forest land by ownership class, 1949 

Cwnership class 

Federal: 

National forest 

Indian 

Other 

Total 

State 

County and mYnicipal 

Private: 

Farm 

Industrial/and other / 

Total 

All ownerships 

Saw til'l'lber 

Million bd. ft. 

1,109 

0 

476 

1,585 

141 

(y') 

11,671 

11,258 

22,929 

24 , 655 

Growing stock 

Million q.1. ft. 

~ 288. 9 

o.o 

132.9 

421.8 

36.2 

(J/) 

3,110.9 

3,000.9 

6, 111. 8 

6,569.8 

J/ Less than 0.5 million board feet or 0.05 million cubic feet. 
Table 18.--Net volume of live saw timber and qrowinq stock on 

commercial fore st land by species, 1949 

Species 

Softwoods: 

Shortleaf and loblolly pines 

Other southern yellow pines 

White and red pines 

Hemlock 

Cypress 

Other eastern softwoods 

Total softwoods 

Hardwoods: 

White oaks 

Red oaks / 

Other white oaks 

Other red oaks 

Sugar maple 

Soft mapl~s 

Beech 

Sweetgum 

Tupelo and biackgum 

Ash 

Hickory 

Cottonwood and as~n 

Basswood 

Yellow-poplar 

Black walnut 

Other eastern hardwoods 

Total hardwoods 

All species 

26 

Saw timb~r Growing stock 

Million bd. ft, Million cu. ft_, 

978 213.0 

523 174.8 

61 9.1 

289 56.1 

38 8.6 

65 53.0 

1,954 514.6 

2,315 744.8 

1,526 3ll.8 

2,867 725.3 

4,931 1, 179. 3 

526 161.0 

326 126.9 

1,959 353.9 

462 131.9 

584 146.2 

418 157.9 

2,631 809.7 

124 22.2 

509 101.6 

1,830 406.8 

266 91.0 

1,427 584.9 

22,701 6,055.2 

24,655 6,~69.8 

' 

.1 
e 

Table 190--Net VQlume of J.iv~ saw ;timb£r on comm~rci ~ forest land 

by diameter class groues and P.QeCies 2 1949 

Species Diameter class groues {inches~ 10: 12 14 16 18 20+ . . TotaJ.. 

- Million board feet ------- Softwoods: 

Southern yellow pin~s 355 437 380 151 99 79 1,501 

White and red pines 2. 7 10 42 61 

Other eastern softwoods 51 53 47 50 54 137 392 

Total softwoods 406 490 429 208 163 258 1,954 

Hardwoods: 

White oak 615 556 275 329 540 2,315 

Other white oaks 423 450 345 356 1,293 2,867 

Red oaks 181 232 297 219 597 1,526 

Other red oaks 901 994 996 780 1,260 4,931 

Sugar maple ,/ 83 80 57 61 245 526 

Beech 188 223 246 257 1,045 1,959 

e Sweetgum 84 102 97 70 109 462 

Tupelo and blackgum 105 122 109 67 181 584 

Yellow-poplar 302 334 336 345 513 1,830 

Other eastern hardwoods 1,177 19209 1,005 633 1,677 5,701 

Total hardwoods 4,05~ : 4,302 3,763 3, ll 7 7,460 22,701 

All species 406 4,549 4,731 3,971 3,280 7,718 24,655 

27 
Table 20.--Net volume of all timber on co!l'~'llercial forest land 

by class of material and species group, 1949 

Class of material 

Growing stock: 

Saw-timber treess 

Sawlog portion 

Upper stem portion 

Total saw timber 

Pole-timber trees 

Total growing stock 

Other material: 

Sound cull treO?s 

Rotten cull trees 

Hardwood limbs 

Salvable d~ad trees 

Total other material 

Total, all timber 

Total ~ Softwoods ~ Hardwoods 

- - - - -Million cubic feet - - - -

3,858.0 

26.4 

3,884.4 

2,685.4 

6, 569 .• 8 

203.3 

yl,482.7 

1,880.6 

]./'134.0 

3,700.6 

10,270.4 

323.2 

26.4 

349.6 

165.0 

514.6 

3.2 

2.9 

6.1 

520.7 

3,534.8 

Cv') 

3,534.8 

2,520.4 

6,055.2 

200.1 

1,479.8 

1,880.6 

134.0 

3,694.5 

9,749.7 

1/ The volume of upper stem portion of hardwoods is estimated to 

be 99.0 million cubic feet. The figure is not included with 

growing stock in this or any of the other tables because the 

volume cannot be distributed by the classes called for in some 

of the tables. 2J The column headed "Tops and limbs" in table 7 includes this 

figure plus the 99.0 million cubic feet estimated to be in the 

tops of sound hardwood saw-timber trees. 

;JI Standing dead chestnut only; this figure is not included in 

table 7. 

28 

---· _] 
e 

Net 

Table 21.--Net annual growth, annual mortality, and commodity 

drain on live s aw timber and growing stock 0?11 

commercial forest land by species group, 194~ 

I : Saw timber Growing stock 

Item Total 3 Soft- : Hard- Total z Soft- z Hard- · 

: woods : woods I : woods : woods 

~li llion board feet- - Million cubic f eeiannual growth l; is9 133 1,056 267. 3 20.9 246.4 

Annual mortality 83 7 76 25.9 2.0 23.9 

Commodity drain& 

Timber products 692.2 52.2 640.0 154.7 10.2 144.5 

Logging waste 41.6 41.6 6.0 6.0 ,/ 

Totaljj 733.8 52.2 681.6 160.7 10.2 150.~ 

ll Though commodity drain was determined for the year 1948 (table 

22), the total drain figure can be considered representative 

of the total drain in 1949. 

29 
w 

0 

Table 22.--Total outeut of timbe r Qroducts and commodity dr ain on live saw timber 

and growing stock 2 1948 

Volume of products cutl/ Commodity dr9in : Commodity drain 

Product on saw timber : on growing stock 

Standard unit: ~lumb r ~M ft :T t 1:Soft-:Hard-:T t 1:Soft-:Hard- . cu. , •; 0 a :woods :wood "' : 0 a :woods :woods 

Million bd. ft. Million cu, ft. 

Saw logs M bd. ft.Y 508,240 70,589 551 50 501 78 7 71 

Veneer logs and bolts M bd. ft. · 9,614 ~,335 ll (]/) 11 2 2 

Cooperage logs & bolts M bd. ft ~ 44,042 6, ll7 49 49 7 7 

Pulpwood bolts Std. cord 4 47,225 3,366 1 1 1 1 

Fuel wood Std. cords 1,506,232 95,907 105 105 45 45 

Posts M pieces 13,544 10,305 7 2 5 8 3 5 

Hewn ties M pieces 75 434 3 3 1 1 

Mine timbers M cu. ft. 16,497 16,497 16 16 

Miscellaneous2f M cu. ft. 3,572 3,572 7 7 3 3 

Total xx xx xx xx 208,122 734 52 682 161 10 151 

l/ Includes ma t erial from both growing stock and other miscellaneous sources. 2:./. International 1/4- inch rule. 

~ Less than 500,000 board feet. 

~ Rough wood basis. 

:[I Includes chemical wood, excels~or, handle stock, shingle bolts, etc . 

--
FOREST SURVEY PROCEDURE 

The inventory of the forest resourc es of Kentucky was made 

during a period of 4 year s. The work started i n the Western Region 

in May 1948 and continued eastward through the St ate until November 

1949 . Because aerial photographs for t he Eastern Region were not 

availabh~ at that time, work was temporarily stopped in Kentucky . 

After obtaining aerial photographs of the Eastern Reg i on, the field 

crews returned to Kentucky in January 1951 and the inventory work 

was completed in June of that year. The tabul ar data can be generally i nterpreted a s applying t o the stands as they existed on 

January l, 1949 . No attempt has been mad e to ad j ust the data of 

the various sub- units to 1949 status. Sinc e growth exceeds drain, 

the error, if any , probably tends to make the 1949 i nventory data . 

too great . The di fference , however , is be lieved to be small in 

comparison wit h the sampl i ng error. The sampling procedure used 

involved an offi ce study of aerial photographs and a field examination of systematica lly selected forest and nonforest plots. 

The proportion of forest land in each county was obtained by 

placing a transparent template marked with un i formly spaced dots 

over aeria l photographs and by c9unting the number of dots falling 

on forest and nonforest areas. The percentage of forest dots in a 

county, multiplied by the total area, gave a preliminary estimate 

of the forest area . This was later adjusted after field examination indicated the number of plots that had changed from forest to 

nonforest since t he data of aerial photography and vice versa . 

The locati on of systematical ly se l ected dots falling on forest land was marked on the photographs. The acre surrounding each 

marked dot was examined under st ereoscope and was classified by 

stand-size class on the basis of the height, crown width , and density of trees on t he plot. Plots to be exami ned i n the field were 

systematically drawn from those classified under the stereoscope. 

This selecti on was we i ghted , gi ving the most weight to the l arger 

stand- si ze classes. In additi on , several nonforest pl ots were 

selected for fie l d examination to measure the movement of open 

land to forest since the photographs were taken . 

The locations of t he sel ected f i eld plots were marked on 

the photographs, which were then sent t o the field . Crews of two 

men each located these points on the ground. On forest land, a 

1/5-acre plot was established for which species , size, quality, 

and growth of trees were recorded . 

The followi ng tabulati on gives the number of dots and plots 

examined for the State as a whole: 

31 
32 

Number of photo dots counted for forestarea determination 

Number of forest plots stereoscopically 

examined on photos 

Number of forest plots field examined 

Number of nonforest plots field examined 

147,286 

12,677 

2,604 

685 
ACCURACY OF DATA 

Statistical analysis of fore~~ area and timber volume data 

shows the following sampling errorslt' for the State as a whole: 

Forest area Growing stock volume 

(M acres) (Percent) (Million (Percent) 

cu. ft.) 

±103.5 ±0.9 ±100.1 ±1.5 

These estimates of sampling error do not include errors 

resulting from the development and application of volume tables 

and cull factors, or from mistakes in measurement or judgment. 

All phases of field and off ice work were closely supervised to 

keep these errors to a minimum. Since the percentage error increases with each subdivision of the total, small acreages or 

volumes may have large errors and may therefore indicate only 

relative magnitudes. 

]/ At one standard error; that is, the chances are two out 

of three that the calculated acreages and volumes do not differ from 

the totals that would have been obtained by 100-percent measurement 

by more than the errors shown here. 

33 
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED 

Forest land.--Land bearing forest gr owth or land from which the 

forest has been removed but which shows evidence of past 

forest occupancy and which is not now in other use. To 

qualify as forest, an area must (1) be at least 100 feet 

wide; (2) be at least 1 acre in area; (3) have a sufficient 

number of trees to pr ovide 10 percent crown coverage; or 

(4) lacking 10 percent crown coverage, be likely to remain 

in forest use. 

Commercial forest land.--Forest land bearing or capable of 

bearing timber of comme rci al character (usually saw timber) 

and economically available now or prospectively for commercial use and not withdrawn f r om such use . 

Reserved forest land .--Forest land withdraw~ from timber 

utilization through statute, ordinance, or admin istrative 

order. 

Noncommerc i al forest land.--Forest l and incapable of yielding usable wood products because of adverse site conditions, 

or so physi cally inaccessible as to be permanently unavailable economically, and not withdrawn for specified purposes. 

Forest types 

34 

Pine.--Stands in which pine species comprise at least 60 

percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Redcedar-hardwoods.--Stands in which redcedar comprises at 

least 20 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Oak-pine.--Stands in which pine species comprise 20-60 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Oak-hickory.--Hardwood stands in which oaks and hickories 

comprise at least 60 percent of the dominant and codominant 

trees. 

White oak.--Hardwood stands in which white oak (Quercus alba) 

comprises at least 60 percent of the dominant and codominant 

trees. 

Beech-maple.--Hardwood stands in which beech and sugar maple 

comprise at least 60 percent of the dominant and codominant 

trees. 
Mixed hardwoods.--Stands of mixed hardwood species not 

qualifying for other hardwood types. Principal species 

include yellow-poplar, elm, maple, basswood, ash, beech, 

hemlock, and black locust in mixture with oaks and hickories. 

Bottomland.--Stands on the alluvial bottoms of rivers and 

streams. The principal species inc~ude sycamore, willow, 

elm, blackgum, sweetgumj soft map1e, oaks, hickory, cottonwood, and cypress. · · 

Tree classes 

Saw-timber tree.--A live softwood (coniferous) tree at least 

9.0 inches d.b.h. or live hardwood tree of commercial species 

at least 11.0 inches d.b.h., with a sound butt log at least 

8 feet long~ or with at least half of the gross volume of 

the tree in sound material. 

Pole-timber tree.--A live tree of commercial species at 

least 5.0 inches d.b.h. but less than saw-timber size that 

is now merchantable or gives promise of becoming merchantable. 

Seedling and sapling trees.--Trees of commercial species 

less than 5. 0 inches in diameter at breast height. 

Cull tree.-~A live tree at least 5.0 inches d.b.h. that does 

not qualify as a saw~timber or pole-timber tree because of 

species, poor form, limbiness~ rot, or other defect. 

Volume estimates 

Board-foot volume includes the sound volume of sawlogs in 

merchantable saw-timber trees to a minimum top d.i.b. of 6 

inches for softwoods and 8 inches for hardwoods. Volume 

deductions have been made for rot, crook, and other defects. 

Board:-foot volumes are shown in the International 1/4-inch 

log rule, which approximates green lumber tally. 

Cubic-foot volume 

Total volume includes the sound wood inside bark in 

both sound and cull livin~ trees 5.0 inches d.b.h. and 

larger, from the stump to a minimum top diameter of 

4.0 inches inside bark. It includes the upper stems 

of softwood trees and the upper stems and limbs of 

hardwoods. 

Growing stock includes the volume of sound wood inside 

bark in (1) the sawlog portion of hardwood saw-timber 

trees to a minimum top d.i.b. of 8 inches~ (2) the stem 

35 
of softwood saw-timber trees to a minimum top d.i.b. 

of 4.0 inches, and (3) pole-timber trees to a minimum 

top d.i.b. of 4.0 inches. 

Stand-size class 

Large saw timber.--Stands having a mini.mum net volume of 

1500 board feet per acre in saw-timber trees, with more 

than half of this volume in trees 15.0 inches d.b.h. and 

larger. 

Small saw timber.--Stands having a net volume of 1500 

board feet per acre in saw-timber trees, with at least 

half of this volume in trees smaller than 15.0 inches d.b.h. 

Pole timber.--Stands with less than 1500 net board feet per 

acre but at least 10 percent stocked with pole-timber and 

larger trees and with at least half the minimum stocking 

in pole-timber trees. 

Seedlings and saplings.--Stands not qualifying either for 

saw timber er pole timber but having at .least 300 seedlings 

and saplings of commercial species per acre. 

Nonstocked.--Commercial forest land not qualifying for any 

other class. 

Hardwood log grade~ 

Grade 1.--Butt logs at least 14.0 inches (upper logs at 

least 16 inches) in diameter inside bark at the small end. 

Minimum length of butt logs is 10 feet; 8 feet for upper 

logs. Five=sixths of the surf ace on the three best faces 

must be clear of defect. Two clear cuttings are allowed on 

any face, but the minimum length of cuttings is 7 feet for 

butt logs and 5 feet for upper logs. Cull deductions including sweep cannot exceed 25 percent for butt logs and 

40 percent for upper logs. Such logs will normally yield 

at least 65 percent No. l common and better lumber. 

Grade 2.--Logs at least 12 inches in diameter inside bark 

at the small end. Minimum length is 8 fee t . Two-thirds 

of the surface on the three best faces must be clear of 

defect. Three clear cuttings are allowed on any face, but 

~ The hardwood .log grades used are essentially those published as "Interim Sawlog Grades for Southern Hardwoods," by C. R. 

Lockard and R. D. Carpenter, Southern Forest Experiment Station, 

1946. Persons interested in detailed ~pecifications should consult this publication. 

36 
the m1n1mum length of cuttings is 3 feet. 

including sweep cannot exceed 50 percent. 

most species will normally yield more than 

common and better lumber. 

Cull deductions 

Such logs for 

40 percent No. l 

Grade 3.==Logs at least 8 inches in diameter inside bark at 

the small end. Minimum length is 8 feet. Minimum standards 

require that these logs be at least 50 percent sound and 

qualify at least for manufacture of local=use lumber or 

railroad ties and timbersG Such logs for most species in 

Kentucky will normally yield 20 to 25 percent No. 1 common 

and better lumber. 

37 
SPECIES LISTED 

Softwoods 

Shortleaf pine includes: 

Shortleaf pine 

Pitch pine 

White pine 

Virginia pine 

Other softwoods include~ 

Cypress 

Red cedar 

Hemlock 

Hardwoods 

38 

Post oak group includes: 

Post oak 

Swamp white oak 

Swamp chestnut oak 

Overcup oak 

Bur oak 

Chinquapin oak 

Chestnut oak 

White oak 

Black oak include s~ 

Black oak 

Scarlet oak 

Nort hern red oak includes& 

Northern red oak 

Swamp red oak 

Other red oaks includeg 

Southern red oak 

Pin oak 

Willow oak 

Water oak 

Shingle oak 

Hickory 

Elm 

Soft maple includes: 

Red maple 

Silver maple 

Boxelder 

Sugar maple 

Syc amore 

Ash 

Yellow-poplar 

- £~ echinata 

- Pin~ £i.qjja 

Pinus strobus 

= Pinus virginiana 

= Taxodium distichum 

- Juniperus virg_iniana 

- Ts~ canadensis 

- Que~ stellata - Quercus bicolor 

- Quercus ,ETinus 

- Qu~ lyrata 

- Quercus ~acrocarEa 

= .91Jercus muehlenbergii 

Quercus montana 

= Quercus alba 

- Quercus velutina 

Quercus coccin.§2._ 

- Quercus borealis 

- Quercus falcata· var. 

pagodaefolia 

- Quercus falcata 

- Quercus palustris 

- Quercus phell..2.2. 

Quercus nigra 

- Quercus imbricaria 

- Carya spp. - Ulmus spp. 

= Acer rubrum 

- Acer saccharinum 

- ~ negundo - Acer saccharum - Platanus occidentalis 

= filxinus spp. 

- Liriodendron tulipif era 
Basswood 

Cottonwood - Tilia spp. 

- Populus deltoides 

Sweet gum 

Blackgum 

Blackgum (swamp) 

- Liguidambar styracif1ua 

- Jiyssa. sylvatica 

- Nyssa aguatica 

Beech - Fagus grandifolia 

Black walnut - Juglans nigra 

Other hardwoods - include all other commercial hardwood species. 

Noncommercial species include species that do not normally 

have commercial value such as hawthorn, redbud, hornbeam, hophornbeam, alder, and serviceberry. 

39 

. 

. TERRITORY SERVED BY THE 

CENTRAL STATES FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION 

FOREST SERVICE 

0. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

IOWA 

0 

0 

MISSOURI 

ILLINOIS 

* C. S. F. E. S. HEADQUARTERS 

0 RESEARCH CENTERS 

fl. EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS 

INDIANA