) 

FOREST STATISTICS 

I 

OF 

.. CENTRAL KENTUCKY 

. ,... 

~RTflll L STl!TfS 

fOREST fXP£~Ufi£nT STliTIOfi .. _L_jJ_[ u_m_h_-u_1- . 1.{ _19_h_La._ 

Harold ·1. MitchelL Director 

FOREST .SURVEY RELEASE NO.9 JUNE 1950 
,. ' 

,FOREST·STATISTICS OF C~TRAL KENTUCKY 

By 

THE .FOREST SURVEY -ORGANIZATIPN . 

Central States Forest Experiment Station 

J;'ersonnel f)artic·ipating in the cellection and compilation of data and in 

the preparation of this report. 

R. K. W:i!nters., Chief, Division of Forest Economics 

.E. V • . Robert's., In C}large, F'?r~st sur~ey 

Field Work - M. Eo Becker~ Field Supervisor 

T. J. Schmitt, E. P. Van Arsdel, W. ·T. Plass, 

E. F o y;oungblood~ H. A,. Knudsen, B... H, Mauer, 

K. E. Wojahn, R. E. Doyle, E._ E.? 'Reynolds, 

T. A. Harrington, G. N. Semmens 

Photo Interpretation - K. E.o Moessner, In Charge 

0. K. Hutchison, K. L. Quigley, 

C. E. Jensen, F. D. Brunson, 

K. W. Chrisemer 

Go:riJ.p:utati:o:ns - Lake Compton, Margaret Pceirsol, Mary Lou Sterner, 

Margaret. L?-rge 

Vol.ume Tables and Statistical Analysis - G. La Schnur 

.Stenographic Service - ·Virginia ~emlinson, ·Edith Clark 

/ 

·' ' 

. I 

'i 
C 0 N T E N T S ------- -

Significant fact s - - -

Forest sur vey procedure 

Accuracy of data - - -

Explanation of terms used - - - - -

Table 

number 

Western Penny- Blue- Coalfield royal gr ass 

Region Region Region 

- - - - - - - - Page - -

l Forest and nonforest area by 

county 4 

2 Commercial f orest area by ownership class 5 

3 Commercial forest area by forest 

type and stand-size class 6 

4 Saw- tin1ber volume by species and 

stand-size class 7 

5 Saw- timber volume by species and 

tree=diameter class 8 

6 Hardwood saw-timber volume by 

log grade 9 

7 Total cubic vol ume by species 

and class of material 10 

8 Cubic vol ume of growing stock by 

9 

10 

species and st and- size cl ass l l 

Cubi c volume of growing stock by 

stand=si ze cl ass and tree di amet er 12 

Average vol ume per acre 12 

= i = 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

22 

24 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

33 

1 

44 

45 

46 

Cumber- land 

Region 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

43 
FOREWORD 

The For est Survey is a nation-wide activity of the Forest Service. 

The fivefol d purpose of the Forest Survey is (1) to make a field inventory 

of the present supply of standing timber; (2) to ascertain the rate at 

which this supply is being increased through growth; (3) to determine the · 

rate at which it is being diminished through industrial and domestic uses ~ 

windfall~ fire, disease 1 and other causes; (4) to determine the present 

consumption and the probable 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 the formulation of both 

private and public policies for use of land suitable for forest production . 

The Forest Survey is conducted in the various regions 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 

statist ics on the forest area and timber volume for each of the four 

regions of Centr al Kentucky . A similar report has been published for 

the Western Kentucky region and a release for the eastern region will be 

issued as soon as field work and tabulations are completed. Later an 

analytical report for the state will be published which will interpret 

forest area, timber- volUJlle, growth, and drain statistics in the light 

of existing and anticipated economic c·onditions. 

- ii -
..... 

..... 

..... 

LOCATION OF FOREST SURVEY REGIONS IN KENTUCKY 

f@ !i!ifi J AREA COVERED BY THIS REPORT ~ ;; \ .. , _ ,. ·~· \ .. ~ ... ~,""",.roll . . .--\ . ..J~~•.tc.cn- r ~ ~ f~"";Lis-;/ r-im-s-·J ~ \' i :1~ ';"'' .;;;;._-.,w £ s . ..!!~~ ,__J . 

, f"•uorJir \,.,,,, 

-..... I · r--~ - ·- · . I . \ "J . ' ----..:!!'!!_.,;_ ---··~-·-··_j 
SICrt'\JIFICANT FOREST STATISTICS FOR CENTRAL KENTUCKY 

Central Kentucky~ as defined in this report~ includes four principal 

subdivisions or regions. These have been established in such a way as to 

group counties that have similar forest~ soil~ and economic conditions. 

Although local regional names have been given to each~ the areas included 

do not necessarily coincide with local terminology. For example, the 

southern portion of the Western Coalfield region includes several counties 

frequently classified as Western Pennyroyal. In general~ the terrain of 

Central Kentucky slopes gradually upward from the west to the adjacent 

mountainous area on the east. The rivers that drain this area flow into 

the Ohio. A brief description of the physiographic and economic characteristics of each region follows. 

Western Coalfield.-=This is an area of gently to sharply rolling 

hills where the elevation varies from 350 to 700 feet. The central 

portion is the most hilly and more gently rolling areas are found along 

the Ohio River and toward the Tennessee line. Agriculture and coal 

mining are important activities. Tobaccos livestock~ and general farm 

crops are produced. 

Pennyroyal.--The soft limestone underlying much of this hilly 

area has in places dissolved~ causing sink holes and extensive drainage. 

Accordingly~ the area is generally drier than other parts of the state. 

This~ together with a hilly terrain~ results in a less productive 

agriculture and an increased proportion of forest land. 

- Bluegrass.--The rich Inn-er Bluegrass is characterized by a productive agriculture based largely on grazing and tobacco growing. This 

is the area of large estates and is the 11 story book" portion of the state. 

Surrounding this area ·is a less fertile hilly fringe (Outer Bluegrass) 

given principally to livestock raising. The soils of this fringe are 

thin~ relatively unproductive 1 and easily eroded. Far.m values are consequently lower than in the Inner Bluegrass. 

Cumberlando==This is an area of rough, almost mountainous topography. It is heavily forestedj and successful agriculture is restricted 

to smally scattered farms on the lower slopes and stream bottoms. 

Elevation ranges from 500 to 2~000 feet. 

The total land area of Central Kentucky is 21.3 million· acresj of 

which 9.0 million acres or 42 percent is forested. In general~ the 

counties in the Bluegrass region have the smallest forest area--in some 

counties as small as 2 to 4 percent of t he land area. For the most part, 

the counties in the Cumberland region have the highest proportion of 

forest land, ranging as high as 90 percent. The forest area of counties 

in the Western Coalfield and Pennyroyal regions varies generally from 

one-third to one-half of the total land area. 

The forest land o~mership is almost entirely private~ 93 percent. 

The Cumberland National Forest, the Mammoth Cave National Park~ and 

state forests account for most of the remaining 7 percent. 
Throughout Central Kentucky the oak-hickory and mixed-hardwood 

types predominate and together make up 70 to 75 percent of the commercial 

forest area. Although some pine is found in all parts of the area~ it is 

most important commercially in the Cumberland region where the pine and 

oak-pine types occupy 19 percent of the commercial forest area. 

Stands of saw-timber size and quality make up 38 percent of the 

total commercial forest area . However, in the Bluegrass region sawtimber stands occupy less than 20 percent of the commercial forest area. 

Considering all regions, pole timber predominates on about 40 percent of 

the commercial forest area and seedling and sapling on 15 percent . The 

remaining 7 percent is classified as nonstocked. 

The total volume of saw timber in Central Kentucky is 16.9 billion 

board feet. Of this total, 3.7 billion board feet are in the Western Coalfield region, 4.3 billion in the Pennyroyal region, 1.3 in the Bluegrass, 

and 7.6 in the Cumberland. The oaks make up more than 45 percent of this 

volume. Hickory with 10 percent and yellow-poplar with 7 percent are also 

important. More than 80 percent of the saw-timber volume is found in 

stands classified as saw timber. Nearly all of the remaining saw-timber 

volume occurs in scattered trees in pole-timber stands. Forty-two percent 

of the saw-timber volume occurs in trees 12 to 14 inches d.b.h . and 26 

percent is in trees 20 inches d.b .h . or larger. 

The proportion of the saw-timber vol ume in high-quality logs is 

very low. Only 13 percent of the hardwood volume is in grade 1 and 2 

logs, from which come the high-quality material required by the veneer, 

furniture, and cooperage industries. This condition is partly due to 

the large proportion of small saw-timber trees in the stand. The practice 

of cutting only the best trees and leaving the lower-quality trees also 

contributes to this condition. · 

The volume of the total forest growing stock is 4.9 billion cubic 

feet. Of this 2.7 billion cubic feet are in the sawlog portion of sawtimber trees and 2.2 billion in trees of pole-timber size. In addition 

to this growing stock 3.0 billion cubic feet are found in tops and limbs 

of saw-timber trees and in the sound portion of cull trees and trees of 

noncommercial species. 

The average volume of saw timber per acre on all co~nercial forest 

land in Central Kentucky is 1,897 board feet. By regions these average 

board-foot volumes per acre vary as follows: Western Coalfield, 2,148; 

Pennyroyal, 2,045; Bluegrass, 1,038; and Cumberland, 1 ,974. Large sawtimber stands averaged 5,237 board feet per acre, and those classified 

as small saw timber averaged 3,098 board feet per acre. The average vol= 

ume per acre of growing stock on commerci~l forest land was 549 cubic feet. 

- 2 -
WESTERN COALFIELD 

- 3 -
Table 1.--Forest and nonforest area b;y: countzz 1949 

Total 

County land 

arealJ 

Forest area Nonforest area 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres 

Allen 233 81 35 152 65 

Barren 311 68 22 243 78 

Butler 284 127 45 157 55 

Caldwell 228 84 37 144 63 

Chri stian 465 135 29 330 71 

Crittenden 234 93 40 141 60 

Daviess 298 63 21 235 79 

Edmondson 195 116 59 79 41 

Henderson 282 53 19 229 81 

Hopkins 355 167 47 188 53 

Logan 360 106 29 254 71 

McLean 164 45 27 119 73 

Monroe 214 101 47 113 53 

Muhlenber g 308 134 44 174 56 

Ohio 381 150 39 231 61 

Simpson 153 19 12 134 88 

Todd 241 64 27 177 73 

Union 220 37 17 183 83 

Warren 349 86 25 263 75 

Webster 217 63 29 154 71 

All counti es 49 2 1~ 792 33 3~700 67 

!I Sou e~ Ar ea of United States 1940j u. S. Bureau of the Census. 

- 4 -
Table 2 o--Commercial forest area by ownership class. 1949 

Ownership class 

Federal~ 

National forest 

other 

Total 

State 

Private 

All ownerships 

Commercial forest area!/ 

Thousand 

acres 

0 

4 

4 

15 

1:;750 

Percent 

OoO 

o2 

o2 

lOOoO 

1/ Does not include 40 9 000 acres of forest land in Mammoth Cave 

National Park and 2,000 acres in state and municipal ownerships 

that are reserved from commercial timber useo 

- 5 -
Table 3o-=Commercial forest area ~forest tlEe and stand=size class~ 1949 

Large Small Seedling 

saw= saw= Pole- and Non= 

Forest type Total timber timber timber sapling stocked 

area area area area area 

Thousand Per- - = - - - - - - Thousand acres - - - - - = - acres cent 

Pine 10 Oo6 5 5 

Gedar=hardwoods 51 2o9 37 14 

Oak=pine 9 o5 4 5 

Oak-hickory 790 45ol 124 157 314 10.3 92 

White oak 88 5o0 10 38 40 Beech~maple 77 4o4 31 24 10 8 4 

Mixed hardwoods 489 28o0 100 76 191 87 35 

Bottomland hdwdso 236 1Jo5 105 52 62 9 8 

All types 19750 370 351 659 226 144 

Percent lOOoO 2Ll 20o1 37o7 12o9 8 o2 

~ 6 = 
Table 4.--Saw-timber volume by species and stand-size class. 1949 

Lar~e Small Seedling!/ 

saw= saw= Pole- and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent - - - - - Million board feet - - - - = -

bd. ft. 

Soft woodsY 27 0.7 17 5 5 White oak 524 13.9 269 175 72 8 

Post-oak group 187 5.0 113 27 31 16 

Chestnut oak 35 .9 5 26 1 3 

Black oak 581 15.4 305 190 78 8 

Northern red oak 264 7.0 166 73 24 1 

other red oaks 312 8.3 224 63 25 

Hickory 329 8 .7 111 170 33 15 

Elm 113 3.0 71 21 17 4 

Soft maple 112 3.0 61 22 29 

Sugar maple 89 2.4 67 12 6 4 

Sycamore 85 2.3 61 15 8 1 

Ash 115 3.1 73 38 4 

Yellow-poplar 174 4.6 123 17 34 

Cottonwood 68 1.8 56 1 10 1 

Sweet gum 243 6.5 155 49 36 3 

Blackgum 44 L2 30 11 3 

Beech 296 7.9 196 78 11 11 

Black walnut 40 1.1 17 21 2 

Other hardwoods 121 3.2 67 27 23 4 

All species 3.9759 2»187 1~041 452 79 

Percent 100.0 58.2 27.7 u.o 2.1 

11. Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

y Includes approximat ely equal volumes of redcedar ~ Virginia pine, and 

cypr ess. 

- 7 -
Table 5o=-Saw=timber volume hi s2ecies and tree=diameter class 3 1242 

g 28 inches 

Species Total 10 12 14 16- 18 20=22 24=26 and 

inches inches inches inches inches l arger 

- = = - - - - - - - = Million board f eet = - - - - - - - = - -

Softwoods 27 6 9 2 3 7 

Whit e oak 524 249 129 54 38 54 

Post·-oak group 187 73 49 54 6 5 

Chestnut oak 35 21 14 CD~ 

Black oak 581 223 151 83 l Ol 23 

Northern red oak 264 79 83 40 19 43 

Other red oaks 312 83 90 79 31 29 

Hickory 329 165 119 19 26 

Elm 113 45 19 23 14 12 

Soft maple 112 60 39 9 2 2 

Sugar maple 89 23 16 2.5 25 

Sycamore 85 14 20 25 12 l4 

Ash 115 41 28 13 9 24 

Yellow-poplar 174 70 66 23 15 

Cottonwood 68 13 31 15 9 

Sweet gum 243 102 88 33 20 

Blackgum 44 19 13 6 6 

Beech 296 77 81 88 40 10 

Black walnut 40 22 16 2 

Other hardwoods 121 69 29 9 14 

All species 3j759 6 l,j457 1908.3 603 348 262 

Percent l OO oO o2 .38 o8 2EL8 16oO 9o2 7o0 

= 8 = 
Table 6.--Hardwood saw~timber volume by species group and percentage 

distribution in log grades, 1949 

Species group 

White oak/~/ Red oaks_g 

Other hardwoods 

All hardwoods 

Volume 

Million 

bd. ft. 

3~732 

~ Log grade ~ Log grade : Log grade 

l 2 3 - - - - Percent - - - - - - -

4.5 

6.6 

6.1 

6.0 9.8 

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

~/ Includes black oak» northern red oak, and other red oaks. 

- 9 = 
Table ?.-=Total cubic volume of sound wood b~ SEecies 

and class of materiali 1942 

Growing stock 

Species Total Saw-tirnberg Pole=tirnber: Tops & Cull 

Total trees trees limbs trees 

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

Softwoods 15.2 . 15o2 Y6o3 8o9 

White oak 214o3 147o8 8L2 bbo6 57o4 9o1 

Post-oak group 107.b 64o4 30o0 34o4 2L4 2L8 

Chestnut oak 15o3 10.3 5o8 4o5 4o2 o8 

Black oak 2llo2 134o6 9L9 42o7 65o5 lLl 

Northern red oak 83.4 53.3 40o9 12.4 28o9 L2 

Other red oaks 110.8 b7.9 48o7 19.2 34o7 8o2 

Hickory 174o9 125o4 52o8 72.6 37.7 1L8 

Elm 79.7 52o2 17o8 34o4 12. 6 14o9 

Soft maple 68o8 35o2 18.0 17o2 12.9 20o7 

Sugar maple 52o5 3Ll 13o6 17.5 9.7 1L7 

SycaJnore 32o7 20o8 12o8 8o0 9ol 2o8 

Ash 66.8 40o0 HL8 2L2 13.8 13o0 

Yellow=poplar 69.8 4L4 27.4 14.0 19o4 9.0 

Cottonwood 2L7 l2o2 10.7 L5 7o6 L9 

Sweet gum ll5o4 79.0 38.5 40.5 27o2 9.2 

Blackgum 30o9 17.4 ?ob 9o8 5o4 8o l 

Beech 13b.2 54o7 44o9 9o8 34o0 47o5 

Black walnut 23o8 lb.4 bob 9o8 4.7 2.7 

Other hardwoods 105o7 b8o7 19.b 49.1 14.1 22.9 

Noncommercial 

species 5o5 5.5 

All species 1~742.2 1,088.0 593.9 494.1 420.3 233.9 

Percent lOOoO 62o5 34o1 28o4 24.1 13.4 

]j Includes tops of softwood saw=tirnber tree s to a minimum diameter of 

4 L~ches inside bark. 

= 10 = 
• Table 8.==Cubic volume of growing stock b~ SEecies 

and stand-size class 9 1949 

Large Small Seedlingy' saw~ saw- Pole- and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling ~ 

0 area area area area 

Million Percent = - ~ - Million cubic feet - - - - - - cu. ft. 

Softwoods 15.2 L4 4.4 2~0 8.8 

White oak 147.8 13.6 45.6 54.5 43.4 4.3 

Post-oak group 64.4 5.9 2L4 1L1 27.9 4.0 

Chestnut oak 10.3 LO 1.4 6.2 L9 .8 

Black oak 134.6 12.4 52.1 40.5 39.2 2.8 

Northern red oak 53.3 4.9 28.7 17.3 7~1 .2 

Other red oaks 67.9 6.2 3EL5 16.1 12.1 1.2 

Hickory 125.4 11.5 30.8 49.0 41.3 4.3 

Elm 52.2 4.8 17.5 10.5 19.7 4. 5 

Soft maple 35.2 3.2 15.9 7.4 11.7 .2 

Sugar maple 31.1 2.9 15.7 8.9 5.5 1.0 

Sycamore 20~8 1.9 9.6 3.5 7.0 .7 

Ash 40.0 3.7 17.8 13.8 7.3 1.1 

Y ello'fr!=pop1a:r 4L4 3.8 2L2 6.0 13.3 .9 

e Cottonwood 12.2 1.1 9.6 .3 2.2 .1 

Sweet gum 79.0 7.3 29.2 20.0 29.3 .5 

Blackgum 17.4 1.6 8.5 5.7 3.0 .2 

Beech 54.7 5.0 33.4 15.6 4.0 1.7 

Black walnut 16.4 1.5 6.5 6.1 2.8 LO 

other hardwoods 68.7 6.3 19.3 12.2 35.2 2.0 

All species 1~088.0 427.1 306.7 322.7 3L5 

Percent 100.0 39.3 28.2 29.7 2.8 

!I Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

- 11 = 
Table 9o-~ubic volume of growing stock by stand-size class 

and tree=diameter class. 1949 

0 

0 0 

0 g28 inches 

Stand-size Total 6-8 10 ~12=14 ~16-18 ~20-22 ~24=26 and 

class ginchesginches~inches~inches~inches~inches~ larger 

- - - - - = - - = - Million cubic feet - - - - - - - -=> _, ~ 

Large saw-timber 

area 427ol 5LO 39o7 68o5 l06o6 78o4 45o5 37o 4 

Small saw-timber 

area 306o7 72o2 65o0 ll8o7 42o2 6o0 2o6 

Pole-timber area 322o7 l53ol 96o5 48o9 18.6 4.3 o8 o5 

Seedling and 

sapling area1/ 3L5 lLl ?o8 6o7 L5 2.0 2o4 

All classes l.9088o0 287.4 209o0 242o8 l68o9 90o7 5L3 37.9 

Percent lOOoO 26o4 l9o2 22o3 l5o5 8.4 4.7 3o5 

11 Includes the volume in nonstocked areaso 

Table lOo-=Average volume per acre by stand-size class. 1949 

Stand-size class Average volume per acre 

Board feet Cubic feet1/ 

Large saw-timber area 5.9911 1,154o3 

Small saw-timber area 2ll966 873.8 

Pole-timber area 686 489.7 

Seedling" and saplin~ 214 85.1 

All clas~Ses 29148 62lo7 

Growing stock onlyo 

Includes the volume in nonstocked areaso 

- 12 = 
PENNYROYAL REGION 

~ 13 -
Table lo-=Forest and nonforest area b;y: cOunt;Ea 1249 

Total 

County land 

are;J/ 

Forest area Nonforest area 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres 

- Adair 252 108 43 144 57 

Breckenridge 362 148 41 214 59 

Bu11itt 192 103 54 89 46 

Casey 278 155 56 123 44 

Clinton 132 62 47 ?:/70 53 

Cumberland 200 108 54 Y92 46 

Grayson 329 133 40 196 60 

Green 180 57 32 123 68 

Hancock 120 53 44 67 56 

Hardin 394 148 38 246 62 

Hart 272 118 43 154 57 

Larue 166 54 33 112 67 

Marion 220 82 37 138 63 

Meade 197 75 38 122 62 

Metcalfe 189 77 41 112 59 

Nelson 280 105 38 175 62 

Pulaski 433 209 48 ~224 52 

Russell 180 76 42 104 58 

Taylor 182 68 37 Jil4 63 

Wayne 310 180 58 ~ 130 42 

All counties 4~868 2~119 44 29749 56 

~ Sourceg Area of United States l940j Uo So Bureau of the Censuso 

Includes area of Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Reservoirso 

= 14 = 
Table 2.--Commercial forest ar ea by ownership class 9 1949 

Ownership class 

Federal: 

National forest 

Other 

Total 

State 

Private 

All ownerships 

Commercial forest areaJ/ 

Thousand 

acres 

3S 

123 

161 

0 

1~951 

2~112 

Percent 

l.S 

5.8 

7.6 

.o 

92.4 

100.0 

11 Does not include 5~000 acres of forest land in Mammoth Cave 

National Park and 29 000 acres in county and municipal ownerships 

that are reserved from commercial timber use. 

= 15 -
Table 3o--Commercial forest area b;y: forest t;y:Ee and stand-size class 2 1949 

Large Small Seedling 

saw- saw- Pole- and NonForest type Total timber timber timber sapling stocked 

area area area area area 

Thousand Per- a::::o <=ZE> ,_ amo ..,.., - - - Thousand acres - - - - - - - acres cent 

Pine 47 2o2 21 16 10 

Cedar-hardwoods 196 9o3 6 16 144 30 

Oak-pine 73 3o5 6 20 16 21 10 

Oak-hickory 930 44o0 142 225 397 136 30 

White oak 61 2o9 4 24 33 

Beech-maple 184 8o7 97 32 49 6 

Mixed hardwoods 570 27o0 126 118 190 105 31 

Bottomland hdwdso 51 2o4 29 16 6 

All types 2~112 410 472 851 308 71 

Percent lOOoO 19o4 22o3 40o3 14 o6 3o4 

- 16 -
• Table 4.--Saw-timber volume bi SEecies and stand-size class 2 1949 

Large Small Seedlingy 

saw- saw- Pole- and 

Species Total t:ilnber timber g timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent - = - - - Million board feet - - - - - - bd. ft 0 

Virginia pine 135 3.1 94 39 2 

Shortleaf pine 76 1.8 23 53 

Redcedar=hemlock 69 1.6 29 6 34 

White oak 467 10.8 182 194 73 18 

Post=oak group 120 2.8 40 27 51 2 

Chestnut oak 129 3.0 76 29 24 

Black oak 644 14.9 278 226 127 13 

Northern red oak 267 6.2 105 100 60 2 

Other red oaks 162 3.7 95 52 15 

Hickory 476 11.0 221 150 101 4 

Elm 73 1.7 36 35 2 

Soft maple 33 .8 13 18 2 

Sugar maple 187 4.3 114 46 11 16 

Sycamore 91 2.1 47 21 23 

Ash 72 1.7 38 24 10 

e Yellow=poplar 322 7.5 191 84 47 

Sweet gum 36 .8 13 20 2 1 

Blackgum 73 1.7 28 22 18 5 

Beech 703 16.3 543 116 40 4 

Black walnut 65 L5 35 17 11 2 

other hardwoods 118 2.7 51 47 17 3 

All species 4~318 2,158 1,381 707 72 

Percent 100.0 50.0 32.0 16.4 1.6 

1/ Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

- 17 -
Table 5o==Saw=timber volume bl SEecies and tree=diameter class~ 1942 

g 28 inches 

Species Total 10 12=14 16=18 20=22 24=26 and 

inches inches inches inches inches larger 

= = = - = = = = - - = Million board feet - = = = = = = = = = ~ 

Virginia pine 135 48 84 3 

Shortleaf pine 76 3 22 28 23 

Redcedar=hemlock 69 25 18 13 5 8 

Wh ite oak 467 282 129 34 22 

Post=oak group 120 73 38 4 5 

Chestnut oak 129 61 43 9 16 

Black oak 644 317 219 81 27 

Northern red oak 267 110 97 2.3 37 

Other red oaks 162 63 76 6 17 

Hickory 476 265 140 29 42 

Elm 73 32 14 20 3 4 

Soft maple 33 19 14 

Sugar maple 1~ 71 39 42 21 l4 

Sycamore 91 19 22 18 6 26 

Ash 72 28 33 11 

Yellow-poplar 322 132 123 57 •' 10 

Sweet gum 36 11 15 10 

Black gum 73 48 19 6 

Beech 703 15.3 192 168 142 48 

Black walnut 65 33 13 19 

other hardwoods 118 54 16 19 20 9 

All species 4~.318 76 895 1~286 574 354 133 

Percent lOOoO lo7 4Jo9 29o8 lJoJ 8o2 Jol 

- 18 = 
Table 6.-=Hardwood saw=timber volume by species group and percentage 

distribution in log grades. 1949 

Species group 

White oaksY 

Red oak;gl 

Other hardwoods 

All hardwoods 

Volume 

Million 

bd. ft. 

716 

1~073 

2~249 

4.9038 

~ Log grade ~ Log grade ~ Log grade 

1 2 3 - - Percent - - - - - - = 

LO 10.0 89 .0 

2.1 9.3 8EL6 

2o6 9.8 87.6 

2.2 9.7 88.1 

1/ Includes white oakj chestnut oak~ and post=oak group. 

~ Includes black oakj northern red oak~ a~d other red oaks. 

= 19 = 
Table 7o==Total cubic volume of sound wood bl SEecies 

and class of materiali 1949 

Growing stock 

Species Total Saw-t imber ~ Pole=timber~ Tops & Cull 

Total trees trees limbs trees 

- - ~ - - - - - - = Million cubic feet - - - - - - - - -

Virginia pine 34o7 34oJ Y24o6 9o7 Oo4 

Shortleaf pi ne lJ ol 12o8 1/llo8 L O o3 

Redcedar=hemlock 35oJ 34o4 1/18o0 16 o4 o9 

White oak 214oJ 15L6 7Jo7 77o9 52 o2 10o5 

Post=oak group 85 o0 56o2 19oJ 36o9 1Jo8 15o0 

Chestnut oak 86ol 55o 8 20o5 J5oJ l4o6 15o 7 

Black oak 256o4 166 o9 l OJol 6J o8 7Jo7 15o8 

Northern red oak 95 o4 6L8 42o 6 19o2 30o4 3o2 

Other r ed oaks 56o6 35oJ 25 o8 9o 5 18o4 2o9 

Hickory 234oJ 160 o2 74 o7 85o 5 5Jo8 20oJ 

Elm 39o5 28o6 1L5 l ? ol 8o2 2o7 

Soft maple JOel 16o9 5o J 1L6 J o8 9o4 

Sugar maple 96 oJ 62o0 29ol 32o9 2LO lJoJ 

Sycamore 29o6 15o5 1Jo8 L7 l OoO 4ol 

Ash 49o0 34o5 lL7 22 o8 8o3 6o2 

Yellow=poplar l 08o l 67o4 50 ol 17oJ 35o5 5o2 

Sweet gum 12 o5 7ol 5o7 L4 4ol L3 

Bl ack gum 44o5 29o9 1L9 18o0 8o5 6ol 

Beech J20 o9 126o6 l04o6 22 o0 80ol ll4o2 

Bl ack walnut 32 o6 20o2 10 o4 9o8 7 o4 5o0 

Other hardwoods 8Jo6 52oJ 18o8 3Jo5 1Jo4 17o 9 

Noncommercial 

species 8o7 8o 7 

All species Yl;~ 966 o6 1, 2JOo J 687oO 543oJ 457o2 279ol 

Percent l OO oO 62o5 34o9 27o6 2JoJ l4o2 

11 Incl udes tops of softwod saw-timber trees t o a minimum di ameter of 

4 inches inside barko 

y Does not include volume of standing dead chestnut estimated to be 

9o5 million cubic feet o 

- 20 -
Table 8.=-Cubic volume of growing stock b;2: species 

and stand-size class" 1949 

Large Small Seedlingf/ 

saw= saw= Pole- and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent - - - - Million cubic feet - - - - - - cu. ft 0 

Virginia pine 34.3 2.8 20.7 13.2 0.4 

Shortleaf pine 12.8 LO 3.4 ~L8 0.4 .2 

Redcedar=hemlock 34.4 2.8 5.5 3.6 25.2 .1 

Vfuite oak 151.6 12.3 38.8 61.3 48.4 3.1 

Post=oak group 56.2 4.6 7.7 13.7 33.8 LO 

Chestnut oak 55.8 4. 5 20.4 12.3 23.1 

Black oak 166.9 13.6 52.8 54.6 55.3 4.2 

Northern red oak 61.8 5.0 19u3 23.2 19.0 .3 

Other red oaks 35.3 2.9 18.4 11.9 5.0 

Hickory 160.2. 13.0 48.5 51.3 58.3 2.1 

Elm 28.6 2.3 10.2 9.3 9.0 .1 

Soft maple 16.9 L4 6.2 6. 7 4.0 

Sugar maple 62 . 0 5.0 27.7 18.5 13.5 2.3 

Sycamore 15.5 1.3 7.9 3.6 4.0 

Ash 34.5 2.8 9.0 7.6 16.9 LO 

Yellow=poplar 67 .4 5.5 32.7 18.3 16.4 

Sweet gum 7.1 .6 2.1 4.1 . .5 .4 

Blackgum 29.9 2.4 9.1 7.4 9.8 3.6 

Beech 126.6 10.3 88.7 25.7 10.4 1.8 

Black walnut 20.2 1.6 8.0 4.6 7.2 .4 

Other hardwoods 52.3 4.3 16.0 17.4 18.0 .9 

All species 1.9230.3 432.4 384.6 39L4 21.9 

Percent 100.0 35.1 31.3 31.8 1.8 

1/ Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

= 21 = 
Table 9.--Cubic volume of growing stock by stand- size class 

and tree- diameter class 9 1949 

Stand-size 

class 

. Total 6- 8 10 : 12- 14 :16-18 : 20- 22 :24-26 

: 28 inches 

and 

: inches:inches:inches:inches:inches:inches: larger 

- - - - - - - - - - Million cubi c feet - - - - - -

Large saw-timber 

area 432.4 53 0 5 48.9 72 .4 122 . 5 69 .9 49 . 9 15.3 

Small saw-timber 

area 384 . 6 84.2 82 .3 155 . 6 53 . 7 8 .4 .4 

Pole-t imber area 391.4 167.3 114 .4 82 . 2 18.3 5.2 4.0 

Seedling and 

sapling area1/ 2L9 4.4 6. 7 3.9 4.0 1.6 L3 

All classes 1~ 230 .3 309.4 252.3 314.1 198.5 85.1 51.6 19.3 

Percent 100.0 25.2 20 . 5 25.5 16 .1 6 . 9 4.2 1.6 

y Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

Table 10 .~-Average volume per acre by st and- size class 2 1949 

Stand-size class 

Large saw-timber area 

Small saw=timber area 

Pol e=timber area 

Seedling and sapling are~/ 

All classe s 

Average volume per acre 

Board feet 

59263 

2$926 

831 

190 

Cubic feetY 

1J054.6 

814.8 

459 .9 

57 . 8 

582 . 5 

1/ Growing stock only. 

Z/ Include s the vol ume in nonstocked areas. 

- 22 -
BLUEGRASS REGION 

- 23 -
Table lo~=Forest and nonforest area b;y: count;l~ 1949 

Total 

County land 

areal/ 

Forest area Nonforest area 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres -- Anderson 132 33 25 99 75 

Bath 184 64 35 120 65 

Boone 161 38 24 123 76 

Bourbon 192 4 2 188 98 

Boyle 116 25 22 91 78 

Bracken 132 37 28 95 72 

Campbell 97 28 29 69 71 

Carroll 84 26 31 58 69 

Clark 166 21 13 145 87 

Fayette 179 7 4 172 96 

Fleming 224 68 30 156 70 

Franklin 135 46 34 89 66 

Gallat in 64 17 27 47 TJ 

Garrard 150 25 17 125 83 

Grant 160 34 21 126 79 

Harrison 197 37 19 160 81 

Henry 185 39 21 146 79 

Jefferson 240 52 22 188 78 

Jessamine llJ 9 8 101~ 92 

Kenton 106 24 23 82 77 

Lincoln 218 60 28 158 72 

Madison 285 52 18 233 82 

Mason 153 24 16 129 84 

Me:it'cer 164 22 13 142 87 

Montgomery 131 25 19 106 81 

Nicholas 130 26 20 104 80 

Oldham 118 27 23 91 77 

Owen 225 89 40 136 60 

Pendleton 178 62 35 116 65 

Robert. :son 65 17 26 48 74 
• Table lo-=Forest and nonforest area bl count~a 1942~ continued 

Total 

County land 

are~ Forest area Nonforest area 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres 

Scott 182 30 16 152 84 

Shelby 246 26 11 220 89 

Spencer 123 2.3 19 100 81 

Trimble 93 48 52 45 48 

Washington 196 42 21 154 79 

Woodford 123 14 11 109 89 

All counties 59647 12>221 22 42>426 78 

1/ Sourceg Area of United States 19403 Uo So Bureau of the Censuso 

= 25 = 
Table 2o--Commercial forest area by ownership class 9 1949 

Ownership class 

Federal~ 

National forest 

other 

Total 

State 

Private 

All ownerships 

Commercial for est area±/ 

Thousand 

acres 

14 

0 

14 

0 

1,207 

1~221 

Pe rcent 

Ll 

oO 

Ll 

lOOoO 

!/ Does not include forest area of l ess than 500 acres reserved 

from commercial timber use for state parkso 

= 26 = 
Table ).==Commercial forest area bl f orest type and stand-size classi 1942 

I 0 

. Large Small Seedling 

saw= saw- Pole- and NonForest type Total timber timber timber sapling stocked 

area area area area area 

Thousand Per- - - - - - - - - Thousand acres - = - = - - -

acres cent --- Pine 19 L6 19 Cedar~hardwoods 197 16.1 · 3 82 69 43 

Oak= pine 26 2.1 5 12 9 Oak- hickory 237 19.4 17 55 117 22 26 

Wh i te oak 12 LO 3 9 

Beech=map1e 7 .6 3 4 

Mixed hardwoods 690 5b.5 43 42 343 144 118 

Bottomland hdwds. 33 2.7 11 7 10 5 

All t ypes 1~221 74 138 573 244 192 

Percent 100.0 6.1 lL3 46.9 20.0 15.7 

= ' 27 = 
Table 4.--Saw-timber volume by species and stand-size class, 1949 

Large Small Seedlinif/ 

saw- saw= Pole= and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent - - - - - Million board feet - = - = - = 

bd. ft 0 

Virginia pine 80 6,3 79 1 

Shortleaf pine 35 2.8 31 4 

Redcedar 15 L2 4 11 

White oak 162 12.8 64 58 32 8 

Post=oak group 76 6,0 61 9 6 

Chestnut oak 46 3.6 32 14 

Black oak 75 5.9 20 33 21 l 

Northern red oak 102 eLO 36 29 37 

other red oaks 32 2,5 17 2 13 

Hickory 85 6,7 4 53 24 4 

Elm 62 4.9 17 12 29 4 

Soft maple 6 .5 4 2 

Sugar maple 27 2,1 8 15 4 

Sycamore 68 5.4 36 8 23 1 

Ash 70 5,5 10 33 26 1 

Ye1lo-v.r=poplar 57 4. 5 31 11 12 J 

Sweetgmn 6 .5 5 l 

Blackgum 8 .6 l 7 

Beech 25 2.0 19 6 

Black walnut 41 3..2 18 3 13 7 

Other hard"lfmods 190 15.0 36 70 78 6 

All species 1.?268 387 4.97 348 36 

Percent 100.0 30.5 39.2 27.4 2.9 

11 I ncludes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

- 28 = 
Table 5.-'""Saw=t:imber volume bz SEecies and tree=diameter classi 1942 

28 inches 

Species Total 10 12=14 16-18 20=22 24-26 and 

inches inches inches inches inches larger ~ ~ - - - ~ ~ - ~ - - Million board feet - - - CE>--- - ---=-

Virginia pine 80 .28 46 6 

Shortleaf pine 35 11 16 8 

Redcedar 15 7 6 2 

White oak 162 80 40 20 22 

Post=oak group 76 41 35 

Chestnut oak 46 23 14 5 4 Black oak 75 27 28 20 

Northern red oak 102 25 46 31 

Other red oaks .32 8 7 4 13 

Hickory 85 65 20 

Elm 62 41 4 9 2 6 

Soft maple 6 .3 J 

Sugar maple 27 13 14 

Sycamore 68 30 17 4 ll 6 

Ash 70 28 ll 14 11 6 

Yellow-poplar 57 23 22 5 7 

Sweet gum 6 l 2 3 

Blackgum 8 1 l 6 

Beech 25 6 16 3 

Black walnut 41 28 5 8 

other h,ardwoods 190 99 46 36 9 

All species 1~268 46 610 336 179 79 18 

P~rcent 100.0 3.6 48ol 26.5 14.1 6oJ 1.4 

= 29 = 
Table 6.==Hardwood saw=timber volume by species group and percentage 

distribution in log grad~ 1949 

Species group 

White oaks!/ 

Red oaks?:.T 

Other hardwoods 

All hardwoods 

Volume 

Million 

bd. ft. 

284 

209 

645 

1,138 

g Log grade g Log grade ~ Log grade 

1 2 3 = - = ~ ~ - - Percent = = - - - - -

88o7 

1/ Includes white oak 9 chestnut oak~ and post=oak group. 

~/ Includes black oak9 northern red oak9 and other red oaks. 
Table ?.==Total cubic volume of sound wood bl 'sEecies 

and class of material 2 1949· 

Species Total g 

.Growing stock 

Saw-timberg Pole=timberg Tops & Cull 

Total tree s trees limb.s trees ~ gz:o ~.,.,.""" = = = = - Million cubic feet - = - - - - = - = 

Virginia pine .24.0 24.0 1{)4.7 9.3 

S,hortleaf pine 8.8 8.8 !;6.1 2.7 

Redcedar 14.4 1.4 .0 4.3 9.7 0.4 

White oak 69.1 47.0 25.2 21.8 . 17.9 4.2 

Post-oak group 29.6 20.6 12.3 8.3 8.8 .2 

Chestnut oak 22.8 16.4 7.4 9.0 5.3 1.1 

Black oak 36 .6 20.2 1L9 8.3 8.5 7.9 

Northern red oak 33.7 20.8 16.1 4.7 1L5 L4 

Other red oaks 13.8 10.3 4.9 5.4 3.5 

Hickory 61.4 48. 0 13 .6 34.4 9.8 3.6 

Elm 63.0 37.9 10.1 27.8 7.2 17.9 

Soft maple 7.1 4. 0 .9 3.1 .6 2.5 

Sugar maple 18.3 11.4 4 .2 7.2 3.0 3.9 

Sycamore 26.5 18.0 10.6 7.4 7.6 o9 

Ash 46.8 32.4 11.1 21.3 8.0 6.4 

Yel1ow=poplar 18.1 11.6 8.9 2.7 6.3 .2 e Sweet gum 1.7 Ll . 9 .2 .6 

Black gum 5.3 3.3 L.3 2.0 .9 Ll 

Beech 14.2 4.9 3.8 1.1 2.9 6.4 

Black walnut 32.1 24.3 6.7 17.6 4.8 3.0 

ot,her hardwoods 139 . 7 93.7 30.5 63.2 21.7 24.3 

Noncommercial 

species 7.3 7.3 

All species Y694.3 472.7 205.5 267 . 2 128.9 92.7 

Percent 100.0 68.1 29.6 38.5 18.5 13.4 

J/ Includes tops of softwood saw-timber trees to a minimum diameter· of 

4 inches inside bark. 

y Does not include volume of standing dead chestnut estimated t o be 

2. 7 million cubic fe et. 

= 31 -
Table B.--Cubic volume of growing stock b;y: SEecies 

and stand-size class, 1949 

Large Small Seedlingy 

saw- saw- Pole- and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent ~ - Million cubic feet -.., - ...,. - ..... 

cu. ft 0 

Virginia pine 24.0 5.1 23.6 0.1 0.3 

Shortleaf pine a.a 1.9 6.7 2.1 

Redcedar 14.0 3.0 1.4 9.9 2.7 

White oak 47.0 9.9 11.8 14.6 1799 2.7 

Post-oak group 20.6 4.4 10.1 4.1 6.2 .2 

Chestnut oak 16.4 3.5 6.1 10.3 

Black oak 20.2 4.3 3.0 8. 5 8.5 .2 

Northern red oal:e 20.8 4.4 6.6 5.3 8.9 

Other red oaks 10.3 2.2 2.9 .3 6.9 .2 

Hickory 48.0 10.2 2.5 14.3 28.7 2.5 

Elm 37.9 8.0 4.7 5.5 24.7 3.0 

Soft maple 4.0 .8 1.5 1.7 .4 .4 

Sugar maple 11.4 2.4 2.3 4.4 4.4 .3 

Sycamore 18.0 3.8 5.5 2.4 8.2 1.9 

Ash 32.4 6.9 2.6 7.0 21.8 LO 

Yellow-poplar 11.6 2.4 6.7 1.7 2.7 • 0 5 

Sweet gum Ll .2 .8 .2 .l 

Black gum 3.3 .7 .4 2.1 .2 .6 

Beech 4.9 1.0 3.0 1.8 .l 

Black walnut 24.3 5.1 ~-o 9 1.5 13.8 4.1 

Other hardwoods 93.7 19.8 11.4 14.9 61.3 6.1 

All species 472.7 80.7 128.1 237.2 26.7 

Percent 100.0 17.1 27.1 50.2 5.6 

}j Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

- 32-
Table 9o==Cubic volume of growing stock by stand=size class 

and tree=diameter class. 1949 

0 

0 ~ g28 inches 

Stand= size Total 6=8 10 gl2=14 ~16=18 g20=22 g24=26 and 

class ginchesginchesginches~inchesginches ginchesg larger 

= ~ - - - - - - - - Million cubic feet ~ = = = ~ - =a:= ...... """" 

I.arge saW=timber 

area 80 o7 lOoO 10.7 l6o6 18o4 14.9 8.2 L9 

Small saW=timber 

area 128.1 28o0 25o7 48.2 16.5 8ol o8 o8 

Pole=timber area 237.2 122.3 59o5 34.0 16.2 3o4 1.8 

Seedling and 

sapling area!/ 26o7 17.4 Jo? 2o9 L2 .6 o9 

All classes 472o7 l77o7 99.6 101.7 52.3 27.0 1L7 2.7 

Percent lOOoO 37.6 2Ll 2L5 lLO 5o7 2.5 o6 

!I Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

Table 10.-=Average volume per acre by stand-size c1ass 2 1949 

Stand-size class Average volume per acre 

Board feet Cubic feetY 

Large ~aw=timber area 

Small saw=timber area 

Pole=timber area 

Seedling and sapling are~ 

5.9230 

3.9601 

607 

83 

1~038 

!/, Gro~~ng stock onlyo Z/ Includes the volume in nonstocked areaso 

= JJ = 

1.5>090o5 928~ 3 

/+14~0 

6L2 

J87ol 
CUMBERLAND REG ION 

= 34 = 
Table 1 o-=Forest and nonforest area by countyo 1949 

County 

Bell 

Boyd 

Breathitt 

Carter 

Clay 

Elliott 

Estill 

Gre~nup 

Jackson 

Johnson 

~ex 

L~urel 

Lawrence 

Lee 

Lewis 

McCrea.cy 

l'iagof:fin 

Menifee 

Morgan 

O'(;g$ley 

Pmtell 

Rockcastlqs 

Rowan 

'Whitley 

Wolf.'® 

All counties 

Total 

land Forest area Nonforest area 

areaJJ 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres 

237 

102 

.316 

257 

30.3 

154 

166 

224 

216 

169 

239 

287 

272 

134 

.310 

270 

194 

1.34 

2.36 

126 

111 

200 

186 

294 

145 

acres 

201 

58 

260 

166 

22.3 

110 

121 

154 

156 

116 

154 

185 

177 

106 

235 

248 

139 

lOS 

154 

92 

83 

130 

151 

214 

97 

85 

57 

82 

65 

74 

71 

73 

69 

72 

69 

64 

64 

65 

79 

76 

92 

72 

81 

65 

73 

75 

65 

81 

7.3 

67 

73 

ac r es 

.36 

44 

56 

91 

80 

44 

45 

'70 

60 

53 

85 

.Y1o2 

95 

28 

75 

Y22 

55 

26 

82 

34 

28 

70 

y{6 ~Js 

19444 

15 

43 

18 

35 

26 

29 

27 

31 

28 

31 

.36 

36 . 

35 

21 

24 

8 

28 

19 

35 

27 

25 

35 

19 

27 

33 

27 

!/ Sourceg Area of United States 1940~ U o S o Bureau of the Cei1suso 

y Includes ax·ea of Wolf Creak Reserwoiro 

= 35 = 
Table 2o-=Cammercial forest area by ownership classs 1949 

Ownership class 

Federalg 

National forest 

Other 

Total 

State 

Private 

All ownerships 

Commercial fore st area!/ 

Thousand 

acres 

354 

2 

356 

31 

3~837 

Percent 

1/ Does not include ~000 acre s of forest land reserved from · commercial ttmber use for state parkso 

= 36 = 
Table 3a=-Commercial fore~t area bl forest type and stand-size class& 1949 

Large Small Seedling 

saw- saw- Pole- and Non= 

Forest type Total timber timber timber sapling stocked 

area area area area area 

Thousand Per- = - - - - - - - Thousand acres - - - - - - - acres cent 

Pine 155 4o0 4 73 59 19 Cedar-hardwoods 18 o5 18 

Oak-pine 560 14o6 29 208 184 120 19 Oak-hickory 1~997 52ol 451 425 762 313 46 White oak 114 3o0 2 37 75 Beech=maple 66 L 7 27 13 17 3 6 Mixed hardwoods 887 2Jol 216 83 313 . 200 75 Bottomland hdwdsa 40 LO 18 20 2 

All types 3~837 747 859 412 655 164 

Percent lOOaO l9o4 22o4 )6o8 l?ol 4oJ 

- 37 = 
Table 4.=-Saw=timber volume by species and stand=size class9 1949 

Large Small Seedling!/~ 

saw= saw- Pole= and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent = = - ~ - Million board feet <=- <ED CC.0 <=00 c:3> OICD 

bd. ft 0 

Virginia pine 281 3.7 9 195 73 4 

Shortleaf pine 2/833 11.0 138 568 113 14 

Redcedar=hemlock 206 2.7 169 26 11 

White oak 598 7.9 239 259 96 4 

Post=oak group 71 .9 17 28 26 

Chestnut oak 776 10.3 426 208 121 21 

Black oak 1~685 22.3 834 583 241 27 

Northern red oak 417 5.5 243 137 37 

Other red oaks 51 .7 28 14 9 

Hickory 854 11.3 531 200 116 7 

Elm 40 . 5 17 13 10 

Soft maple 64 .8 20 25 17 2 

Sugar maple 46 .6 40 3 3 

Sycamore 55 .7 28 26 l 

Ash 73 LO 52 17 4 

Ye1l.ow=poplar 692 9.1 348 221 87 36 

Sweet gum 49 .7 26 12 11 

Black gum 188 2. 5 92 68 26 2 

Beech 329 4.3 237 53 38 1 

Black walnut 70 .9 22 24 18 6 

Other hardwoods 196 2.6 1.37 39 13 7 

All species 73571.;. 3.\)653 2J719 1~071 131 

Percent 100.0 48.2 35.9 14.1 1..8 

1/ Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

~I Includes 61 million board feet of White pine. 

= 38 = 
Table 5o -...Saw-timber volume b;y: ~ecies and tree-diameter class 2 1249 

0 

0 28 inches 

Species Total 10 12~14 16-18 20-22 24-26 and 

inches inches inches inches inches g larger 

CQ>-----"""'-""""' - - - Million board feet - - ~ ~ - - - - - - ~ 

Virginia pine .ifs81 100 143 38 

Shortleaf pine 33 144 427 186 47 29 

Redcedar-hemlock 206 9 45 58 60 26 8 

White oak 598 332 147 80 39 

Post=oak group 71 56 10 5 

Chestnut oak 776 270 204 109 25 168 

Black oak 1!)685 708 653 242 68 14 

Northern red oak 417 116 140 94 48 19 

Other red oaks 51. 25 17 9 Hickory 854 381 226 150 35 62 

Elm 40 22 16 2 

Soft maple 64 30 28 6 

Sugar maple 46 23 12 11 

Sycamore 55 8 1 23 23 

Ash 73 31 13 22 7 

Yellow=pop1ar 692 265 235 141 45 6 

Sweet gum 49 26 19 4 

-

Blackgum 188 86 75 27 

Beech 329 73 83 60 54 59 

Black walnut 70 41 26 3 

Other hardwoods 196 58 65 60 4 9 

All species 7!)574 253 3~166 2,~~252 15>153 376 374 

Percent lOO·oO Jo4 4L8 29o7 l5o2 5o0 4.9 

!I Includes 61 million board feet of white pineo 

= 39 = 
Table 6o-=Hardwood saw-timber volume by species group and percentage 

distribution in log grades, 1949 

Species group Volume ~ Log grade Log grade ~ Log grade 

l 2 .3 

Million - - - - - - - Percent - = - - - - -

bdo fto 

White oakf 1~445 3.7 8.1 88.2 

Red oak~ 2,153 .3.1 6.2 90.7 

other hardwoods 2~656 5.6 10.6 8.3 .8 

All hardwoods 6~254 4.3 EL5 87.2 

11 Includes white oak~ chestnut oak, and post-oak group. y Includes black oak~ northern red oak, and other red oaks. 
Table 7a==Total cubic volume of sound wood by species 

and class of material 9 1949 

Growing steele .. Species Total Saw-timber~ Pole~timber~ Tops & Cull 

Total trees ~ t~ees limbs trees = = - ~ ~ = = = = = Million .cubic feet ~ - - - - - = - = 

Virginia pine 

Shortleaf pin~ Redcedar-hemlock 

White oak 

Post=oa.k group 

Chestnut oak 

Black oak 

Northern red oak 

Other red oaks 

Hickory 

Elm 

Soft maple 

Sugar maple 

Sycamore 

Ash 

Yellow-poplar 

Sweet gum 

Blackgum 

Beech 

Black walnut 

other hardwoods 

Noncommercial 

species 

Percent 

106oJ 

181a8 

40o8 

J5Jo5 

46oJ 

J89o9 

724o7 

15Jo4 

20a8 

398ol 

2L9 

70ol 

46o2 

18a6 

J7ol 

265o7 

19a0 

l02o7 

288o·O 

28a8 

13Ll 

lOOoO 

104o2 

18L5 

J9o5 

256a5 

3L7 

208al 

438al 

89a7 

12al 

262o8 

l)al 

J2ol 

20a8 

1L6 

23a2 

l67al 

lJoJ 

4L9 

66a5 

17o9 

75o0 

Y5L2 

YJAOo 9 

YJ4o6 

9Jo9 

1L7 

12Ll 

268o9 

65o3 

8o l 

l32o9 

6o4 

10a2 

7a3 

8o4 

1L6 

107o3 

7o9 

)OoO 

48o7 

1L4 

)Oo8 

5Jo0 

40a6 

4o9 

162a6 

20o0 

87o0 

169o2 

24o4 

4o0 

129o9 

6o7 

2L9 

l3o5 

3o2 

1L6 

59o8 

5a4 

1L9 

r/o8 

6o5 

44o2 

66a5 

8o4 

86o6 

192ol 

46o7 

5o8 

95o 7 

4o5 

?aJ 

5o) 

boO 

8a3 

76o0 

5a7 

2L4 

37 oJ 

8a0 

22al 

?OJ a? 

2ol 

oJ 

LJ 

JOo5 

6a2 

95a2 

94o5 

17a0 

2o9 

J9o6 

4o3 

30a7 

20al 

LO 

5o6 

22o6 

(2/) 

39o4 

184o2 

2o9 

J4o0 

25o4 

1/ Includes to:piS of softwood sa1f!=timber trees to · a minimum diameter of 

4 inches inside barko 

~ Includes 9al million cubic feet of white pineo 3/ Less than Oa05 million cubic feeta Y Does not include volume of standing dead chestnut estiniated to be 

5lo5 million cubic feet o 

= 41 = 
Table 8.--Cubic volume of growing stock b;y: SEecies 

and stand-size class, 1949 

Large Small Seedling!/ 

sav..<- saw- Pole- and 

Species Total timber timber timber sapling 

area area area area 

Million Percent - - = - Million cubic feet ...,. aa:> ~ .,.. - -

cu. ft 0 

Virginia pine 104o2 4.9 2ob 52o8 45 . 5 3.3 

Shortleaf pine ~/18L5 8o6 23o4 llb.3 37.3 4.5 

Redcedar-hemlock 39.5 L9 30.4 5.9 3.1 .l 

White oak 25bo 5 12.2 b0.7 90 ob 101.9 3.3 

Post-oak group 3L7 L5 4.1 14.b 12.5 0 5 

Chestnut oak 208.1 9.9 80.3 56 .2 67.8 3.8 

Black oak 438.1 20o8 159.8 148.0 123.8 b.5 

Northern red oak ~~ 89.7 4o3 45.2 3L2 13.2 .1 

Other red oaks 12.1 .b 4.7 2.7 4.7 

Hickory 262.8 12.5 llb .o 73o9 69.6 3o3 

Elm 13.1 .b 4o0 2o6 5.9 ob 

Soft maple 32.1 L5 7.9 15.2 8.4 ob 

Sugar maple 20.8 LO 12ol 3o9 4.5 o3 

Sycamore lLb o5 5.0 4o5 2ol 

Ash 23.2 Ll 1L6 6.7 4.8 ol 

Yellow-poplar lb7.1 7.9 b3.7 52.4 44.4 bob 

Sweetgu.111 13.3 .b 5.3 4.9 3.1 

Blackgum 4L9 2.0 17.8 15o9 b.9 L3 

Beech 6b o5 3.2 43o0 13.1 9o7 .7 

Black walnut 17.9 og 4o3 b.4 6.2 LO 

Other hardwoods 75.0 3ob 3L2 20.3 l9o0 4o 5 

All species 29106o7 733 . 1 738. 1 594o4 4Ll 

Percent lOOoO 34o8 35o0 28o2 2o0 

y' Includes the volume in nonstocked areaso 

:dl Includes 9ol million cubic feet of white pine. 

= 42 = 
-

Table 9.~-Cubic volume of growing stock by stand-size class 

and tree~diameter class. 1949 

0 

0 ~28 inches 

Stand-size Total 6-8 10 ~12-14 ~16-18 ~20-22 :24-26 and 

class ~inches~inches~inches:inches~inches:inches~ larger 

- - - - - - - - - - Million cubic feet - """"' ""'" -=- """" - -=- -- """" 

Large saw=timber 

area 733.1 96.2 75.9 13L6 197.0 132.8 45.9 53o7 

Small saw-timber 

area 738ol 175.5 147.3 277.5 109.3 2L2 7.3 

Pole-timber area 594.4 267.9 166.6 110.7 34.6 14.6 

Seedling and 

sapling area]/ 4Ll 14.5 6ol 7.2 8.0 3.6 L7 

All classes 29106.7 554ol 395.9 527.0 348.9 172.2 54.9 53.7 

Percent 100.0 26.3 18o8 25.0 16.6 8.2 2.6 2.5 

11 Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

Tabl e lOo-=Average volume per acre by stah.d-size class. 1949 

Stand-size class Average volume per acre 

Board feet Cubic feetY 

Large saw-timber ar ea 

Small saw-timber area 

Pole-timber area 

Seedling and sapling are~ 

All classes 

4j)890 

3»165 

758 

160 

974 

1/ Growing stock only. ~ Includes the volume in nonstocked areas. 

= 43 = 

• 98L4 

859.3 

42lo0 

50o2 

549 oO 
FOREST SURVEY PROCEDURE 

The inventory of the forest resources of Central Kentucky was made 

during the period October 1948 to November 1949o A sampling procedure 

was used involving an office study of aerial photographs and a field 

examination of randomly selected forest and nonforest plotso 

The proportion of forest land in each county was obtained by 

placing a transparent template marked with uniformly spaced dots over 

aerial photographs and by counting the number of dots falling on forest 

and nonforest areaso The percentage of the dots in a county that was 

forest~ multiplied by the total area gave a preliminary est~nate of the 

forest areao This was later adjusted after field examinationo 

The location of a selected number of dots falling on forest land 

was marked on the photographs. The acre surrounding each marked dot was 

examined under stereoscope and was classified by stand-size class on the 

basis of the height, crown width, and density of trees on the plato Plots 

to be examined in the field were randomly drawn from those classified under 

stereoscopeo In making this selection the greatest weight was given to 

the stand=size classes containing the largest timber volumeo In addition, 

a number of nonforest plots was sel ected for field examinati on to measure 

the movement of open land to forest since the date of photographyo 

The locations of the selected field plots were marked on the 

photographs~ which were then sent to the fieldo Crews of two men each 

located these points on the ground o On forest land a l/5-acre plot was 

established on which forest conditi ons were described and the species, 

size, quality, and growth of trees were recordedo 

The following tabulation gives the number of dots and plots 

examined for each of the four regionso 

Western 

Coalfield Pennyro;y:al Bluegrass Cumberland 

Region Region Region Region 

Number of photo dots counted 

for forest-area determination 32~296 24,085 33,477 28,878 

.. Numbe r of forest plots stereoscopicall y examined on photos 2,070 2,155 1,450 3~789 

Number of forest plots field 

examined 418 362 224 694 

Number of nonforest plots 

field examined 160 100 161 118 

- 44 -
• 

ACCURACY OF DATA 

Statistical analysis of forest area and timber volume data shows 

the following sampling errors!/ for each of the four regions. 

Region Forest area Saw-timber volume 

M acres Percent Million Percent 

cu. ft. 

Western Coalfield 3EL5 2.2 42.4 3.9 

Pennyroyal 76.0 3.6 45.5 3.7 

Bluegrass 87.9 7.2 30.3 6.4 

Cumberland 80.6 2.1 56.9 2.7 

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 

office 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. 

1/ At one standard deviation; i.e., the chances are two out of three 

that, if the survey were repeated~ the total forest area or volume figures 

would not differ more than the errors shown in this table. 

= 45 = 
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED 

Forest land.--Land bearing forest growth 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 provide 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 co~nercial character and economically available now or 

prospectively for commercial use and not withdrawn from such use. 

Reserved forest land.--Forest land that has been withdrawn from 

timber utilization through statute, ordinance, or administrative 

order. 

Noncommercial forest land.--Forest land incapable of yielding 

usable wood products because of adverse site conditions, or so 

physically inaccessible as to be permanently unavailable economically, and not withdrawn for specified purposes. 

Forest types 

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

of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Cedar-hardwoods.--Stands in which redcedar comprises at least 20 

percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Oak- pine.-- Stands of pines, oak, and other hardwoods in which 

pines comprise 20~60 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Oak-hickory.--Stands of hardwoods in which oaks and hickories 

comprise at least 60 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

White oak.--Stands in which white oak (Quercus alba) comprises 

at least 60 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Beech-mapl e.-=Stands in which beech and sugar maple comprise at 

l east 60 percent of the dominant and codominant trees. 

Mixed hardwoods.=- Stands of mixed hardwood species not qualifying 

for other hardwood types. Principal species include yellowpoplar~ elm, maple 9 basswood, ash ~ beech, hemlock, and black 

locust in mixture with oaks and hickories. 

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

and streams. The principal species include sycamore, willow, elm, 

blackgum, sweetgum, soft maple, oaks, hickory, cottonwood, and 

cypress. 

- 46 -

• 
• 

Tree classes 

Saw-timber tree.--A live softwood (coniferous) tree at least 9.0 

inches d.b .h . or live hardwood trees 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 at least 5.0 inches d.b.h. but 

less than saw-timber size that gives promise of becoming a sawtimber tree. 

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 9 rot 1 or other defect . 

Volume estimates 

Board-foot volume includes the volume of that portion of sawtimber trees merchantable for sawlogs. Volume deductions have 

been made for rot 1 crook9 and other defects. Board-foot volumes 

are shown in the International l/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 living 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 (l) the sawlog portion of saw-timber trees, (2) the upper 

stem of softwood saw-timber trees to a minimum top diameter 

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

minimum top diameter of 4.0 inches inside bark. 

Stand-size class 

Large saw timber.--Stands haying a minimum net volume of 1500 

board feet per acre in saw-timber trees, and having 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, and having at least half of this 

volume in trees smaller than 15.0 inches d .b.h. 

Pole timber.--Stands failing to meet the saw-timber stand 

specifications, but at least 10 percent stocked with poletimber and lar ger trees and with at least half the minimum 

stocking in pole-timber trees. 

- 47 -
Seedlings and saplings.--Stands not qualifying either for sa\)F 

t imber or pole' timber but having at least 300 seedlipgs and 

saplings of commercial species per acre. 

Nonstocked.--Commercial forest land not qualifying for any .other 

class. 

Hardwood log grades 

Grade 1.--Logs at least 14o0 inches in diameter inside bark with 

five-sixths of the surface on the three best faces clear of 

defect in not more than two cuttings. Lumber from such logs will 

normally grade at least 60 percent No. 1 common and better. 

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

two-thirds of the surface on the three best faces clear of defect in not more than three cuttings. Lumber from such logs 

will normally grade at least 35 percent No. 1 common and better. 

Grade 3.--Merchantable logs at least 8.0 inches in diameter inside bark Which do not meet the requirements of higher gradeso 

Such logs will normally produce less than 35 percent No. 1 

common and better lumber or will be suitable only for ties or 

timbers. 

Speci e s listed 

Softwoods 

Virginia pine 

Short leaf pine includes: 

Shortleaf pine 

Pitch pine 

White pine 

Cypress 

Redcedar 

Hemlock 

Hardwoods 

White oak 

Post oak group includes: 

Post oak 

Swamp white oak 

Swamp chestnut oak 

Overcup oak 

Bur oak 

Chinquapin oak 

Chestnut oak 

Black oak includes: 

Black oak 

Scarlet oak 

Pinus virginiana 

- Pinus echinata 

Pinus rigida 

Pinus strobus 

Taxodium distichum 

Juniperus virginiana 

- T suga canadensis 

Quercus alba 

- Quercus stellata 

Quercus bicolor 

Quercus prinus 

Quercus lyrata 

Quercus macrocarpa 

- Quercus muehlenbergii 

Quercus montana 

- 48 -

Quercus velutina 

Quercus coccinea 

• 

• 

.. 
' 

l 

Northern red oak includes: 

Northern red oak 

Swamp red oak 

Other red oaks include : 

Southern red oak 

Pin oak 

Willow oak 

Water oak 

Shingle oak 

Hickory 

Elm 

Soft maple includes: 

Red maple 

Silver maple 

Boxelder 

Sugar maple 

Sycamore 

Ash 

Yellow-poplar 

Cottonwood 

Sweet gum 

Black gum 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods - include 

Quercus borealis 

Quercus falcata varo pagodaefolia 

Quercus falcata 

Quercus palustris 

Quercus phellos 

Quercus nigra 

Quercus imbricaria 

Carya species 

Ulmus species 

Acer rubrum 

Acer saccharinum 

Acer negundo 

Acer saccharum 

Platanus occidentalis 

Fraxinus species 

Liriodendron tulipifera 

Populus deltoides 

Liguidambar styraciflua 

(Nyssa sylvatica 

(Nyssa aguatica 

Fagus grandifolia 

Juglans nigra 

all other commercial hardwood species o 

Noncommercial species - include species that do not normally have 

commercial value such as hawthorn 9 redbud, hornbeam, hophornbeam, 

alderj and serviceberryo 

- 49 -
IOWA 

McGr•1or 

0 Am•l 

Columbia 

• 

~Sali'm 

,.. 

8 . RESEARCH CENTERS ~ EXPERIMENTAL 

* C.S. F.E.S. HEADQUARTE

INDIANA I OHIO 

TERRITORY SERVED BY THE CENTRAL STATES FOREST EXPERIMENT 

FORE.SJ SERVICE 

· UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE