~RTfl~ L ST~TfS 

fOR£ST fXP£fUffi£0T STliTIOO 

_£_o__[ u_~b ... :lL-1- JJ, .... 19 :h_LflPHILIP A. BRIEGLEB, DIRECTOR 

Librar~ 

·Northeostern FQrest Experiment Statton 

Forest Ser,vice·U .S. Dept. of Agriculture 

JANUARY 1953 
FOREST STATISTICS OF INDIANA 

These people have collected and compiled data or in some 

other way helped to prepare this report: 

. . R. K. Winters, Chief~ Division of Forest Economics 

Field Inventory 

M. E. Becker, SupervisoF; R. E. Doyle, T. A. Harrington, 

B. H. Mauer, W. £.. Metcalf, -G. N. Semmens, E. F. Youngblood 

Photo Interpretation 

K. E. Moessner, Supervisor; F. D. Brunson, C. E. Jensen 

Drafting 

R. W. Smith, K. W. Chrisemer 

Drain Survey 

·J. T. Morgan : 

Statistical Comput ations 

Lake F. Compton, Marga ~re"t Peirsol, Mary Lou Sterner, 

Pauline Ramaley, ·.yiolet Powell 

Growth and Statistical Procedures 

G. L. Schnur 

~eport PreparatioQ 

R. K. Winters, 0. K. Hutchison 

Stenographic Service 

Edith Clark, Virginia Simone 

Coopera ting Agencies Purdue un iv~rsity 

Department of Forestry, E. R. Martell, Head . "Indiana .Extension Service 

E. 1: ~ Lot.t, State Extension Forester . A. T. Parrish, W. I.. Fix, A. N. Liming, Harold Sc~olten, 

District ExteQsion Foresters 

Indiana Department of Conservation 

Division of Forestry 

R. F. Wilcox, State Forester 

C. R. Leslie, K. I. Shumaker, District Foresters 
FOREWORD 

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

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

a field inventory of the pr esent 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 ~ windfall , fire, disease, and other causes; 

(4) to determine the pr esent consumption of 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 formulating 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 Indiana 

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 ea ~ t imber volume, timber growth, 

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

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

light of existing and anticipated economic conditions. 
CONTENTS 

Significant forest statistics for the State of Indiana • 1 

Significance of the forest statistics. 6 

State tables 7 

Forest and nonforest area by regions •• 8 

Commercial forest area by forest type and standsize class 9 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest area by regions. • . • • 10 

Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by 

species and stand -size class • • • • • • • • • • 11 

Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by 

species and tree-diameter class. • • • • • 12 

Hardwood saw-timber volume by species group and 

log grade. • . . • . • • . • • • • 13 

Total cubic volume of sound wood on commercial 

forest area by species and class of material •• 14 

Cubic volume of growing stock on commercial forest 

area by species and stand-size class •••.•... 15 

Cubic volume of growing stock on commercial forest 

area by stand-size class and tree-diameter class •• 16 

Average volume per acre by stand-size class • 17 

Standard summary tables. • • • 18 

Land area by major classes of land. • 19 

Commercial forest land area by ownership and 

stand-size classes • -. • • . • • • • • . • • • 20 

Area of commercial forest land by major forest 

types. . . . . . . . . • • • • 21 
e Forest 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock 

on commercial forest land by stand-size class. • • • 22 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock 

on commercial forest land by ownership class • . • • 23 

Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock 

on commercial forest land by species • • • • 24 

Net volume of live saw timber on commercial forest 

land by diameter class and species • • • • • • 25 

Net volume of all timber on commercial forest land 

by class of material and species group • • • • 26 

Net annual growth, annual mortality, and commodity 

drain on live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest land by species group. • • • 27 

Total output of timber products and commodity drain 

on live saw timber and growing stock • • • • 28 

Survey procedure. . . . . . . . 29 

Accuracy of data . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Explanation of terms used. . . 31 

Species listed . . . . . . . . . 35 
~- -. _____ -

PERCENT FOREST 

Do-· 19 

l1llillJ 2 0 -39 

CIITJ 40-59 

~ 60-79 

Figure 1.--Forest Survey r egions and proportion of forest land by county, 1950. 
SIGNIFICANT FOREST STATISTICS FOR THE 

TOTAL LAND AREA 

Crop/end 

60% 

STATE OF INDIANA 

AREA 

The area of forest landY in Indiana 

is 4.1 million acres. The proportion of 

the area in forest is greatest in the Knobs 

Region (fig. 1) where the relatively rough 

topography discourages farming on many 

areas. In the fertile cornbelt (Northern 

and Central Reg i ons) the forest area averages 7 to 10 percent of the total land 

area. Although all of the forest area is 

potentially of commercial importance, 

58,000 acres, chiefly in parks and recreation areas 9 have been reserved from 

cutting. 

FOREST LAND OWNERSHIP 

Ninety-five percent of the commercial forest area is privately owned. 

The federally owned forest land is about 

equally divided between the Hoosier 

National Forest and military depots. The 

remaining public forest land is nea rly 

all in state forests and parks. 

lo/o 

FOREST AREA BY 

STAND-SIZE CLASS 

Fifty-one percent of the commercial forest area bears saw-timber stands. 

Large saw- timber stands occupy a larger 

proportion of the forest area in the 

Northern and Central Regions than in the 

ot hers. The large saw-timber stands 

average nearly 5,800 board feet per acre 

and the small saw-timber stands average 

slightly more than 3,000. 

The pole-timber stands average 362 cubic feet per acre, 

while seedling and sapling stands and nonstocked areas average 

46 and 158 cubic feet per acre, respectively. Almost all of the 

l/ For definitions of terms used see page 31. 
nonstocked areas in this State are heavi l y grazed with only a few 

scattered saw-timber trees remaining . Most nonstocked areas should 

eventually restock satisfactorily if adequately protected from fire 

and grazing. 

FOREST AREA BY Approximately 82 percent of the 

FOREST TYPES forest area bears two timber types-- the 

oak-hickory and mi xed hardwoods types. 

Various species of oak and hickory account 

for 82 percent of t he volume in the oakhickory type, which is found mainly on 

the drier sites. The mixed hardwoods type 

is found chiefly on moist but well-drained 

sites. In Indiana the principal species 

in this type are: elm, ash, sugar maple, 

hickory, yellow- poplar, northern red oak, 

and beech. The oak- pine type is restricted 

to the southern three regions--mainly 

the Knobs. The area of the "other" type 

group is principally lowland hardwoods, 

but includes also a small area of maple-beech-birch type and pinoak flats. 

SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

Ninety-two percent of the 11.0 

billion board feet~ (Intl. 1/4-inch log 

scale) of saw timber is found in sawtimber stands. The average volume per 

acre for saw-timber stands is 4,866 board 

feet and for the total forest area is 

2,722 board feet. Although this average 

volume is greater than for some of the 

adjoining states, it is still only about 

half the volume of average- to wellstocked stands. 

SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

BY STAND-SIZE CLASS 

~ The commercial forest area and saw-timber volume are 

increased 20 percent and 78 percent , respectively, over the corresponding figures for the 1945 forest reappraisal report. Present 

figures differ from the 1945 estimates partly because different 

definitions of forest area and commercial volume were used, and 

partly because of the greater intensity of the Forest Survey. The 

data presented here are based upon a thorough and systematic survey 

of Indiana forest resources. 

2 
Forty-two percent of t he saw-timber volume is in the Central 

and Northern Regions though these regions possess only 29 percent 

of the commercial forest ar ea . The 1~nob s Region with 41 per cent of 

the forest area has 31 percent of the saw-timber volume. 

SAW-TIMBER VOLUME 

BY SPECIES GROUP 

Hardwood species account for 99 

percent of the boa r d-foot volume. Va rious species of oak ac count for 38 per cent 

of the total, and spe cies often classed 

as soft hardwoods such as yellow-poplar, 

soft mapl e, sweetgum, ba sswood ~ etc. , 

ma ke up 35 percent of the volume . 

Only 14 percent of t he hardwood 

saw-timber volume is in high-quality 

(grades 1 and 2) logs. Of this, nearly 

one - third is in the Northern Reg ion even 

though this Region contains only 22 percent of the board-foot volume in t he 

State. Apparently the fa rm woods i n 

this relatively prosperous portion of 

the State are not as severely cut as 

they are elsewhere. Sevent y-four percent of the board-foot volume in the 

Northern Region is in trees 16 inches 

HARDWOOD SAW-TIMBER 

VOLUME BY LOG GRADE 

or larger in diameter. 

HIGH-QUALITY HARDWOOD 

VOLUME BY REGIONS 

Ordinarily hardwood trees do not 

contain grade 1 or 2 sawlogs until they 

reach the 16- inch d. b.h. class. Accor dingly , 3.7 billion of the 9.4 billion 

board feet in grade 3 sawlogs are in 

trees that are too small to contain logs 

of a higher grade. Many of these trees 

will contain high-quali t y sawlogs after 

they have had a chance to grow. A part 

of the r ema ining 5.7 bill ion board feet 

in grade 3 sawl ogs is in top l ogs that 

are also too small t o qualify for a 

higher grade . However , much of the lowquality volume is in logs that are too 

rough and defective ever to qualify as 

grade 1 and 2 sawlogs. 

l 

l 

I I 

j 

I 

I 

3 
In addition to the large volume of low-quality sawlogs 

mentioned, 214 million cubic feet of sound wood occur s in cull 

saw-timber-size trees. The gross volume of these cull trees is 

equivalent to 3,228 million board feet--29 percent of the commercial saw-timber volume. About one of every seven saw-timber-size 

trees is a sound or rotten cull that occupies valuable growing 

space but produces no usable growth. 

GROWING-STOCK VOLUME 

The growing stock (all sound trees 5.0 inches d.b.h. and 

larger) has a volume of 2,598 million cubic feet. This is an 

average of 642 cubic feet per acre of commercial forest land. 

The Central Region has the highest average volume of growing 

stock per acre--818 cubic feet. The Lower Wabash Region has the 

lowest--567 cubic feet. 

lJ... 

0 

1-

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w 

u . cr 

w 

a. 

VOLUME BY DIAMETER CLASSES 15,....--------------------. 

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28+ 

D.B.H. CLASS (Inches) 

One - thi rd of the 

growing-stock volume is 

in trees of the 6-inch, 

8-inch , and 10-inch 

diameter cla sses. The 

largest proportion of 

the cubic-foot volume 

is in the 10-inch diameter class. Nearly 60 

percent of the volume 

in pole-size trees is 

found as an understory 

in saw- timber stands; 

about 40 percent of the 

volume in pole-size 

trees occurs on poletimber areas. Most of 

the de,sirable commercial species are about 

as well or better represented in the polesize trees as they are 

in trees of saw-timber size. This indicates that these speci es 

are likely to be as well represented in future saw-timber stands. 

4 
TREE STOCKING BY DIAMETER CLASS 

w 

a:: 

(.) 

<{ 

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w 

200 

ISO 

lL 100 

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The forest area 

averages 338 sound trees 

per acre. Of these, 76 

percent are in the 2-inch 

and 4-inch diameter classes. 

The 6-inch, 8- inch, and 10-

inch diameter classes have 

19 percent of the total 

number of sound trees, and 

5 percent is in the larger 

diameter classeso The low 

growing stock volume and 

the small number of trees 

I'--

in the larger diameter 

classes indicate an understocked condition of the 

forest area. Neverthele ss, 

the number of trees in the 

small diameter classes and t---- 0 4 6 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28+ the species representation 

oe.H. CLASS (Inches) in pole-size trees indicate 

that the 

built up 

improved 

growing stock volume of Indiana forests can rapidly be 

through better protection from fire and grazing and through 

forest management and cutting practices. 

The net 

growth of Indiana ' s 

forest in 1949 was 

551 million board 

feet and the drain 

for the same year 

was 254 million 

board feet. Furthermore, growth 

exceeded drain for 

each of the principal species groups. 

Growth of highGROWTH-DRAIN BALANCE 

SOFTWOODS ~ 

RED AND 

BLACK OAKS 

SOFT 

HARDWOODS 

ALL OTHER 

HARDWOODS ~ 

SAW-TIMBER GROWTH 6 DRAIN 

BY SPECIES GROUP 

§GROWTH 

~DRAIN 

L---~2, ---~~--~,rr-,--"lo~o--~11;2~5--~l--~~~7--~21l'O 

MILLION BOARD FEET 

quality saw timber, however, did not equal drain. 

5 
GROWTH 

DRAIN 

HARDWOOD GROWTH a DRAIN 

BY LOG GRADE 

400 500 

MILLION BOARD FEET 

the reservoir of high -quality timber, even 

volume is being built up. 

Of the total 

hardwood board-foot 

growth 85 million 

board feet were in 

high-quality sawlogs 

(gr ades 1 and 2). 

About 117 million 

board feet of the 

total hardwood drain 

were in high-quality 

sawl ogs. Current 

cutting, t herefore , 

is gradually reducing 

though the board-foot 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOREST STATISTICS 

Indiana is largely supported by industry and agriculture; 

timber growing and forest industries, while locally i mportant, do 

not at present play a large part in the state ' s economy. In the 

southern part, forests occupy abou t one-third of the land area, 

and local income derived dir ectly or indirectly from the forests 

is important. The state ' s forests could be more important if 

developed to maximum productivity. Any successful improvement 

program must be supported by the private landowners, because they 

own 95 percent of the forest land. 

The forests of Indiana are understocked , especially with 

larger trees. If adequately protected and soundly managed, the 

Indiana forests could eventually support two and possibly three 

times the present volume. Then the annual cut could be correspondingly increased. This would in turn make possible a larger 

local forest industry and would provide more wages and other local 

income. 

The solution of the forestry problem in Indiana rests largely 

in the hands of thousands of small woodland owners. They must be 

convinced that woodland grazing , repeated burning ~ and "high grading" 

are detrimental to their own best interests. Landowner education 

will help but the development of cheaper ways to log and market 

low-quality trees and to remove culls will go far toward prompting 

the landowner to improve forest management. If the forest growing 

stock i s to be built up to the point where it can make its maximum 

contribution to the state's economy , positive action by landowners 

must be taken. 

6 
STATE TABLES 

7 
Table 1.--Forest and nonforest area by regions 2 1950 

Total 

Region land 

areal/ 

Forest area Nonforest area 

Thousand Thousand Percent Thousand Percent 

acres acres acres 

Lower Wabash 3,695 796 22 2,899 78 

Knobs 4,194 1,668 40 2,526 60 

Upland Flats 1 ,649 457 28 1,192 72 

Central 7,281 517 7 6,764 93 

Northern 6,352 665 10 5,687 90 

All regions 23,171 4,103 18 19 ,068 82 

1/ Source: Areas of the United States 1950, U. S. Bureau of the 

Census. 

8 
e 

\.{) 

e 

Table 2.--Cornmercial forest area by forest type and stand-size cla

Large : Small : p 1 : Seedl

o e- 

F t t • T t 1 . saw- : saw- : t•mb : an

ores ype o a t. b t. b 1 er 1

· · 1m er : 1m er : t d : sap 

s an s 

stands : stands : : sta

Thousand Percent - - - - - - - Thousand acres 

acres 

--

Oak-pine 120 3.0 -- 10 51 5

1,533 37.9 407 360 534 22

Maple-beech-birch 188 4.6 128 34 24 -

Mixed hardwoods 1,774 43.8 644 242 604 26

Pin-oak flats 63 1.6 27 ll 16 

Lowland hardwoods 367 9.1 178 43 108 3

All types 4 , 045 - - 1 , 384 700 1,337 60

Percent 100.0 34.2 17.3 33.1 14.
10 

Table 3.--Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock 

on commercial forest area by regions, 1950 

Region Saw timber Growing stock 

Million bd . ft. Million cu. ft. 

Lower Wabash 1 ,831 449.4 

Knobs ' 3,392 947.7 

Upland Flats 1,159 275.9 

Central 2,145 421.4 

Northern 2,483 503.5 

All regions ll ,010 2,597.9 
Table 4.--Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by species 

and stand-size class, 1950 

Species 

Pine 

Other softwoods 

White oak 

Chestnut oak 

Other white oaks 

Black oak 

Northern red oak 

Other red oaks 

Hickory 

Ash 

Elm 

Cottonwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Basswood 

Sweetgum 

Blackgum 

Sugar maple 

Soft maple 

Sycamore 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods 

All species 

Percent 

Total 

: Large~ Small: P 1 :Seedling: N o e- on- : saw- : saw- : t. b : and : t k d 

t o b t• b lm er l" s oc e : lm er g lm erg t d : sap lng: t d :stands:stands: s an s: stands : s an s 

Million Per- - - - - Million board feet - - - -

bd. ft. cent 

40 • 3 

ll . l 

l ,297 ll. 8 

101 . 9 

382 3. 5 

1,165 10.6 

985 8.9 

327 3. 0 

876 8.0 

530 4.8 

1,101 10.0 

153 1.4 

579 5.3 

135 l. 2 

161 l. 5 

123 1.1 

857 7.8 

448 4.1 

390 3.5 

708 6.4 

208 l. 9 

433 3.9 

5 

826 

31 

332 

702 

773 

238 

553 

366 

901 

129 

396 

llO 

129 

102 

697 

389 

305 

623 

130 

268 

36 

358 

63 

29 

349 

185 

62 

227 

ll6 

125 

17 

99 

17 

26 

10 

128 

44 

40 

51 

46 

108 

2 

5 

113 

7 

15 

110 

26 

22 

84 

30 

70 

7 

78 

8 

6 

ll 

29 

15 

38 

21 

29 

53 

ll ,010 8,005 2,136 779 

100.0 72.7 19.4 7.1 

2 

l 

5 

2 

l 

12 

15 

2 

6 

3 

()j) 

4 

13 

(])) 

l 

67 

0.6 

l 

2 

l 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

23 

0.2 

1/ Less than 0.5 million board feet. 

ll 
Table 5.--Saw-timber volume on commercial forest area by seecies 

and tree-diameter class 2 1950 

28 

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

Species Total :inches:inches:inches:inches:inches: and 

over 

- - - - - Million board feet- - - - - - Pine 40 13 17 5 5 

Other softwoods ll 4 4 1 2 

White oak 1,297 506 378 240 89 84 

Chestnut oak 101 67 27 7 

Other white oaks 382 64 98 83 59 78 

Black oak 1,165 440 371 212 ll2 30 

Northern red oak 985 257 310 185 ll6 ll7 

Other red oaks 327 95 92 51 46 43 

Hickory 876 426 257 109 46 38 

Ash 530 238 159 61 55 17 

Elm 1,101 326 307 214 166 88 

Cottonwood 153 31 32 35 21 34 

Yellow-poplar 579 191 192 136 18 42 

Basswood 135 50 38 24 17 6 

Sweetgum 161 58 54 38 ll 

Blackgum 123 39 41 19 17 7 

Sugar maple 857 291 276 188 54 48 

Soft maple 448 lll 139 107 59 32 

Sycamore 390 105 127 79 54 25 

Beech 708 99 243 169 160 37 

Black walnut 208 92 84 25 7 

Other hardwoods 433 251 ll6 44 17 5 

All species ll,OlO 17 3,758 3,347 2,033 1,124 731 

Percent 100.0 0.2 34.1 30.4 18.5 10.2 6.6 

12 
t-' 

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Table 6.~-Hardwood saw-timber volume by species group and log g

. 

- - Species group : Volume ; Log grade 1 . Log grade 2 . 

Million Million Percent Million Percent 

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

White oaksY 1,780 67 3.8 144 8.1 

Red oaksY 2,477 ll8 4.8 199 8.0 

Other hardwoods 6,702 347 5.2 646 9.6 

All hardwoods 10,959 532 4.9 989 9.0 

ll Includes white oak, chestnut oak, and other white oaks. :y Includes black oak, northern red oak, and other red oaks. 
Table 7.--Total cubic volume of sound wood on commercial forest 

area by species and class of material, 1950 

Species 

Pine 

Other softwoods 

White oak 

Chestnut oak 

Other white oaks 

Black oak 

Northern red oak 

Other red oaks 

Hickory 

Ash 

Elm 

Cottonwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Basswood 

Sweetgum 

Blackgum 

Sugar maple 

Soft maple 

Sycamore 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods 

Noncommercial 

species 

All species 

Percent 

Total 

17.2 

8.2 

435.2 

43.5 

117.3 

384.9 

271.7 

ll6. 7 

331.4 

209.6 

381.4 

45.8 

172.2 

49.7 

63.2 

44.2 

335.5 

198.8 

lll.7 

311.5 

88.0 

253.7 

10.5 

Growing stock 

Saw- Pole - Cull : ~ 

Total : timbef 

1

: timber: trees:Limbs 

: treeslt : trees : 

- - Million cubic feet16.8 

7. 0 

31 4.1 

32.5 

77.1 

264.3 

179.5 

79.6 

246.4 

153.3 

246.4 

29.3 

118.7 

29.1 

47.9 

29.0 

205.7 

98.8 

69.2 

ll5.1 

59.2 

178.9 

9.0 

3.2 

204.3 

16.5 

58.1 

184.0 

149.8 

51.0 

139.1 

85.6 

169.3 

23.8 

91.0 

21.1 

26.7 

19.6 

129. 7 

70.4 

60.8 

103.0 

33.2 

71.9 

7.8 

3.8 

109.8 

16.0 

19.0 

80.3 

29.7 

28.6 

107.3 

67.7 

77.1 

5.5 

27.7 

8.0 

21.2 

9.4 

76.0 

28.4 

8.4 

12.1 

26.0 

107.0 

0.4 

1.2 

9.5 

1.4 

4.9 

13.2 

7.3 

5.5 

8.5 

7.6 

27.2 

2.1 

4.5 

4.4 

1.2 

2.6 

31.1 

31.7 

6.0 

64.3 

6.4 

25.6 

9.4 

111.6 

9.6 

35.3 

107.4 

84.9 

31.6 

76.5 

48.7 

107.8 

14. 4· 

49.0 

16.2 

14.1 

12.6 

98.7 

68.3 

36.5 

132.1 

22.4 

49.2 

1.1 

4,001.9 2,597.9 1,721.1 876.8 276.0 1,128.0 

100.0 64.9 43.0 21.9 6.9 28.2 

~ Volume computed to a 4-inch top d.i.b. or to the potential 

limit of the tree for sawlogs whichever occurred first. 

~ Limbs of live hardwood saw-timber trees and saw-timber-size 

cull hardwood trees to a minimum diameter of 4.0 inches inside 

bark. 

14 
Table B.--Cubic volume of gr owi ng stock on co~~ rcia l forest area 

by species and stand-size class, 1950 

Species 

Pine 

Other softwoods 

White oak 

Chestnut oak 

Other white oaks 

Black oak · 

Northern red oak 

Other red oaks 

Hickory 

Ash 

Elm 

Cottonwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Basswood 

Sweetgum 

Blackgum 

Sugar maple 

Soft maple 

Sycamore 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods 

Total 

: Large ~ Small~ :Seedling: 

: saw- ; saw- : Pole-~ and : Non-

: timbe r: t i mber: timber g sapl ing : stocked 

:stands:stands:stands: stands ~ stands 

Million Per- -

cu. ft. cent 

- Million cubic feet- -

16.8 0.6 

7.0 0.3 

314.1 12.1 

32.5 l. 2 

77.1 3.0 

264.3 10.2 

.179. 5 6. 9 

79.6 3.1 

246.4 9.5 

153.3 5.9 

246.4 9.5 

29.3 1.1 

118.7 4. 6 

29.1 1.1 

47.9 1.8 

29.0 1.1 

205.7 7.9 

98.8 3.8 

69.2 2.7 

115.1 4.4 

59.2 2.3 

178.9 6.9 

2.1 

142.0 

6.8 

55.5 

ll9. 2 

122.8 

41.3 

ll4. 5 

84.1 

172.8 

21.1 

66.9 

21.2 

27.9 

18.9 

133.8 

72.5 

50. 1 

96.8 

28.7 

75.4 

10. 0 

0. 1 

105.8 

17.4 

9.9 

82.7 

39.1 

17.6 

71.1 

39.9 

35.3 

4.9 

22.3 

4.6 

8.2 

5. 0 

46 . 5 

14.8 

8.0 

11.3 

12.6 

40.3 

5.3 

4.4 

65.1 

8.3 

10.0 

59 . 8 

17.3 

19. 1 

56.2 

26.4 

36.3 

3.2 

27.2 

2.9 

11.8 

5.1 

24.1 

11.3 

9.3 

5.2 

16.1 

60.1 

1.5 

0. 4 

1.2 

1.6 

2.4 

.1 

1.1 

4.5 

2.5 

1.5 

• 1 

2.3 

.4 

1.3 

.2 

1.2 

1.8 

1.3 

2.4 

0.1 

.2 

.2 

• 5 

.l 

.4 

.5 

.6 

.5 

.7 

All species 2,597.9 1,474.4 607.4 484.5 27.8 3.8 

======================================== 

Percent 100.0 56.8 23.4 18. 6 1.1 0.1 

15 
1-' 

(j\ 

Table 9.--Cubic volume of growing stock on commercial forest area by sta

and tree-diameter class, 1950 

_ _ _ : : 

Stand-size class : Total : 6-8 : 10 : 12-14 : 16-18 : 20~22 : 

inches _ inches _ inches : inches : inches : 

- - - - = - - - - - - - - -Million cub i c feet- - - - - 

Large saw timber 1~474.4 138.8 117. 3 285.6 405.0 278.8 

Small saw t imber 607,4 130.5 122.6 268.5 69.2 13. 3 

Pole timber 484.5 237.4 117.8 86.9 30.6 5. 0 

Seedling and sapling 27.8 13.2 3.7 4.7 1.2 - - 

Nonstocked 3.8 -- .3 .6 .6 . 2 

All cla sses 2,597.9 519.9 361.7 646.3 506.6 297 .3 

Percent 100. 0 20.0 13. 9 24 .9 19.5 11 .5 
Table 10.--Average volume per acre by stand-size class, 1950 

Stand-size class 

Large saw-timber stands 

Small saw-timber stands 

Pole-timber stands 

Seedling and sapling stands 

Nonstocked stands 

All classes 

l/ Growing stock only. 

Average volume per acre 

Board feet Cubic feetl/ 

5,784 1,065.3 

3,051 867.7 

583 362.4 

112 46.3 

958 158.3 

2,722 642.2 

17 
18 

STANDARD SUMMARY 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. 
Table 11.--Land area by major classes of land, 1950 

Class of land 

Forest: 

Commercial 

Noncommercial: 

Reserved from commercial timber use 

Unproductive for timber use 

Total forest land 

Nonforest 

Total, all classes 

Area 

Thousand acres 

4,045 

58 

0 

4,103 

19,068 

23,171 

19 
Table 12. - -Commercial forest land area by ownership 

and stand-size classes, 1950 

Ownership class Total 

Saw- : Pole- ~ 

timber ~ timber; 

stands ~ tands ~ 

Seedling~ 

and : Nonsapling :stockedl/ 

stands : stands 

- - - - - - - -Thousand acres - - - - - - -

Federal ~ 

National forest 

Indian 

Ot her 

Total 

State 

County and municipal 

Private 

All ownerships 

66 

0 

60 

126 

93 

2 

3,824 

4 , 045 

24 

0 

31 

55 

48 

1 

1 ,980 

2,084 

28 

0 

18 

46 

45 

1 

1,245 

1,337 

1/ Includes areas not classified elsewhe r e. 

~ Less than 500 acr es. 

20 

14 

0 

10 

24 

(y') 

576 

600 

0 

1 

1 

23 

24 
Table 13.--Area of commercial forest land 

by major forest t ypes, 1950 

Forest type Thousand acres 

Oak-pine 120 

Oak-hickory 1 , 533 

Maple-beech-birch 188 

Mixed hardwoods 1 '774 

Pin-oak flats 63 

Lowland hardwoods 367 

Total 4,045 

21 
Table 14.--Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest land by stand~size class, 1950 

Stand-size class 

Saw-timber stands 

Pole-timber stands 

Seedling and sapling stands 

Nonstocked and other areas 

not classified elsewhere 

Total 

22 

Saw timber 

Million bd. ft. 

10,141 

779 

67 

23 

ll,OlO 

Growing stock 

Million cu. ft. 

2,081.8 

484.5 

27.8 

3.8 

2,597.9 
Table 15.--Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercial forest land by ownership class, 1950 

Ownership class Saw timber Growing stock 

Million bd. ft. Million cu. ft. 

Federal: 

National forest 

Indian 

Other 

Total 

State 

County and municipal 

Private: 

Farm 

Industrial and other 

Total 

All ownerships 

99 32.8 

0 0 

158 36.8 

257 69.6 

174 57.0 

6 1.4 

7,956 1 ,858.6 

2,617 611.3 

10,573 2,469.9 

11,010 2,597.9 

23 
Table 16. --Net volume of live saw timber and growing stock 

on commercial forest land by species, 1950 

Softwoods: 

PineY 

Cypress 

Species 

Other eastern softwoods 

Tota l softwoods 

Hardwoods ; 

White oak 

Other wht~e oaks~ Red oaksl! 

Other red oaks~ Sugar maple 

Soft maples 

Beech 

Sweet gum 

Tupelo and blackgum 

Ash 

Hickory 

Cottonwood 

Basswood 

Yellow-poplar 

Bla ck walnut 

Other eastern hardwoods 

Total hardwoods 

All species 

Saw timber 

Million bd . ft. 

40 

2 

9 

51 

1,297 

483 

985 

1 ,492 

857 

448 

708 

161 

123 

530 

876 

153 

135 

579 

208 

1,924 

10,959 

11,010 

Growing stock 

Million cu. ft. 

16.8 

.4 

6.6 

23.8 

314.1 

109.6 

179.5 

343.9 

205.7 

98.8 

115.1 

47.9 

29.0 

153.3 

246.4 

29 .3 

29.1 

118.7 

59.2 

494.5 

2,574.1 

2,597.9 

Mostly Virginia pine, but includes small amounts of shortleaf, 

red, and other pines. 

24 

Includes chestnut oak and species listed under "other white 

oaks" on page 35. 

Includes species listed under "northern red oak " on page 35. 

Includes species listed under "black oak" and "other red oaks" 

on page 35. 
Table 17.--Net volume of live saw timber on commercial forest 

land by diameter cl ass and s2ecies 2 1950 

Species Diameter class ~inches~ 10~ 12 14 16 18 20+ : Tot al 

- - Million boa rd feet - - - ., - .- - Softwoods: 

Pine 13 14 3 5 5 40 

Other eastern softwoods 4 4 1 2 11 

Total softwoods 17 18 3 6 7 51 

Ha r dwoods: 

Whi t e oak 242 264 231 147 413 1 , 297 

Other white oaks 67 64 74 51 227 483 

Red oaks 112 145 135 175 418 985 

Ot her r ed oaks 237 298 261 202 494 1,492 

Sugar maple 142 149 162 114 290 857 

Bee ch 42 57 95 148 366 708 

Sweetgum 31 27 23 31 49 161 

Tupelo and blackgum 15 24 29 12 43 123 

Yellow-poplar 79 ll2 127 65 196 579 

Other east€rn hardwoods 787 843 717 542 1,385 4,274 

Tota l hardwoods 1,754 1,983 1,854 1,487 3,881 10 , 959 

All species 17 1 ,772 1,986 1 , 860 .19487 3,888 ll ,010 

25 
Table 18.--Net volume of al l timber on commercial forest land 

by class of material and species group , 1950 

0 0 

Class of material Total ; Softwoods ; Hardwoods 

- - - - Million cubic feet - - - -

Growing stocb 

Saw-timber trees 

Sawlog portion 

Upper stem portion 

Total saw timber 

Pole-timber trees 

Total growing stock 

Other material~ 

Sound cull trees 

Rotten cull trees 

Hardwood limbs 

Salvable dead trees 

Total other material 

Total, all timber 

l ,671. 9 

49.2 

l '721.1 

876. 8 

2,597.9 

52.7 

223.3 

1,128.0 

4,001. 9 

l/ Less than .05 million cubic feet. 

26 

9.3 

2.9 

12. 2 

11.6 

23.8 

1.6 (l/) 

1.6 

25.4 

1,662.6 

46,3 

865.2 

2,574.1 

51.1 

223.3 

1,128. 0 

1,402.4 

3,976. 5 
Table 19.--Net annual growt h, annua l mortality. and commodity 

dr ain on live saw timber and growing stock on 

commercia l fo r est land by species gr oup, 19561/ 

Item 

Net annual growth 

Annual mortality 

Commodity drain~ 

Timber products 

Logging waste 

Saw timber 

Tota l ! Soft- ~ Ha r d-

~ wo ods ~ woods 

-Million board feet551 15 

19 (y) 

218.1 0. 4 

36.1 

254. 2 0.4 

536 

19 

217 . 7 

36. 1 

253.8 

Growing stock 

Tot al ~ Soft- : Hard-

: woods : woods 

-Million cubic feet106.6 

6. 2 

40.5 

6.0 

46.5 

1.8 

0.1 

0.2 

0.2 

l04.C 

6.1 

40.3 

6.0 

46.3 

l/ Though commodity drain wa s determined for t he yea r 1949 (table 

23), the total drain figure can be considered r epresentative 

of the total drain in 1950. 

y Less than 0. 5 mi llion boa r d feet. 

27 
1\) 

(X) Table 20.--Total output of timber products and commodity drain on live 

and growing stock, 1949 

Volume of products cutll Product : Commodity drain 

on saw timber 

. . 

• Standard unit: Number :M cu. : :Soft-~Hard-

. . . ft.:Total~woods:woods

Million bd. ft. 

Saw logs 

Veneer logs and bolts 

Cooperage logs & bolts 

Pulpwood logs 

Pulpwood bolts 

Fuel wood 

Piling 

Poles 

Posts 

Hewn ties 

Mine timbers 4; MiscellaneousTotal 

M bd . ft.Y 

M bd. ft. 

M bd . ft . 

M bd. ft. y Std. cords 

Std. cords 

M linear feet 

M pi eces 

M pi eces 

M pieces 

M 

c

u. ft . 

M cu. ft . 

xx:xx 

161,146 

11 '596 

4,637 

0 

8~688 

437 , 962 

0 

0 

340

193 

26 , 025 

1, 100 , 000 

087

017 

xxxx 

22~381 

1 

~611 

644 

0 

556 27 595 

0 

0 

2 , 939 

160 

821 

1 , 072 

57 , 779 

190.9 

13.9 

5.6 

(.W) 

34. 9 

2.7 

1.3 

4. 9 

254.2 

0.4 

0.4 

190. 5 

13. 9 

5. 6 

(31) 

34. 9 

2.7 

1.3 

4. 9 

253.8 

1/ Inclu

des material from both growi

ng st

ock and other miscellaneous sources. y International l/4" rule. 

]/ Rough wood basis. 1/ Includes chemical wood, excelsior, handle stock, shingl e bolts~ etc. 

~ Less than .05 million bd . ft. 
FOREST SURVEY PROCEDURE 

The inventor y of the forest resources of Indiana was made 

during the period November 1949 to December 1950. The sampling 

procedure used involved an office study of aerial photographs and 

a field examination of randomly select ed forest and nonforest plots. 

The proporti on of forest land i n each county was obtained 

by placing a transparent template marked with uniformly spaced dots 

over aerial photographs and counting t he number of dots falling on 

forest and nonforest areas. The percent age of forest dot s in a 

county , multiplied by the total area gave a preliminary estimate 

of the forest area. This was later adjust ed after field exami nation 

indicated the number of plots that had changed from forest t o non~ 

forest and vice versa since the date of aerial phot ography. 

Systematically selected dots falling on f orest land were 

marked on the photographs. The acre surrounding each marked dot 

was examined under stereoscope and was cla ssified by stand-size 

class on the basis of the height, crown width , and number of trees 

on the plot. Plots to be examined in the f i eld were randomly 

drawn from those classified under stereoscope. This selection was 

weighted, giving the most weight to t he larger stand-size classes. 

In addition, several nonforest plots were select ed for field examination to find out how much open land had become forested since 

the date of photography. 

The locations of the selected field pl ot s were marked on 

the photographs, which were then s ent to the field. Cr ews of two 

men located these points on the ground. On f orest land a l/5-acre 

circular plot was established and species, size , quality, and 

growth of trees were recorded. 

The following tabulation gives the number of dot s and plots 

examined for the State as a whole. 

Number of photo dots counted for 

forest-area determination 

Number of plots ster eoscopi cally 

examined on photos 

Number of forest plot s field 

examined 

Number of nonforest plots field 

examined 

195, 941 

700 

292 

29 
ACCURACY OF DATA 

Statistical analysis of commercial forest-area and timbervolume data shows the following sampling errorsl/ for the State as 

a whole: 

Commercial forest area 

(M acres) (Percent) 

~48.6 

Growing stock volume 

(Million (Percent) 

cu. ft.) 

±46.3 ±1.8 

These esti mates of samp ling 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 i ndicate only 

relative magnitudes. 

2/ At one standard deviation; e.~ the chances are two out 

of three that the calculated acreages and volumes do not differ 

from the totals that wou l d have been obtained by 100-percent measurement by more than the errors shown above. 

30 
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED 

Forest land. --Includes (a) lands which are at least 10 percent 

stocked by trees of any size and capable of producing timber 

or other wood products , or of exerting an influence on the 

climate or on the water regime ; (b) land from which the 

trees described in (a) have been removed to less than 10 

percent stocking and which have not been developed for other 

use; (c) afforested areas ; and (d) chaparral areas. 

The minimum area that will qual ify as forest land is l acre. 

Strips of timber must be at least 120 feet wide before the 

area will qualify as forest l and. Conversely, clearings, 

streams, and unimproved treeless strips less than l acre in 

area or less than 120 fee t in width within forest areas will 

be classified as forest land. Improved rights-of-way such 

as graded roads, railroads~ or transmission lines will be 

classified as nonforest regardless of widt h. 

Commercial forest land.--Forest land which is (a) producing, 

or physically capable of producing , usabl e crops of wood 

(usually saw timber), (b) e conomi cally available now or prospectively, and (c ) not withdrawn from timber utilization. 

Reserved forest land.--Forest land t hat has been withdrawn 

fr om timber utilization through st at ut e , ordinance, or administrative order. 

Forest types 

Oak-pine.--Forests of pines , oaks, and other hardwoods in 

which pines comprise 25- 50 per cent of the dominant and codom= 

in ant trees. 

Oak-hickory. --Forests of hardwoods in which oaks and hickories comprise at least 50 percent of the dominant and codominant trees~ except wher e pines comprise 25 percent or 

more, in which case the stand wou ld be classified as hardwood-pine. 

Maple-bee ch-bircho--Fo:r ests in wh ich at least 50 percent of 

the dominant and codominant trees are sugar maple or beech , 

singly or in combination. 

Mixed hardwoods.--Forests in which 50 percent or more of the 

stand is upland ash ~ elm, basswood, walnut, soft maples, or 

associated species, singly or in combination except where 

pines comprise 25 percent or more of t he st and, in which 

case the stand would be classed as hardwood - pine. 

31 
Pin-oak flats.--Forests on poorly drai ned flats in which 25 

percent of the dominant and codominant trees are pin oaks. 

Lowland hardwoods.--Forests on characteristically moist to 

wet sites where 50 percent or more of the stand is composed 

of sycamore , hackberry, honey losust, blackgum, sweetgum, 

southern cypress, ash, e lm, willow, cottonwood, and red and 

silver maple, singly or in combination. 

Tree classes 

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

9.0 inches d.b.h. or live har dwood (deciduous) 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, sound tree of commercial species 

at least 5.0 inches d.b.h. but l ess 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 inche s 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 

32 

Board-foot volume includes the sound volume of sawlogs in 

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. Boardfoot volumes are shown in terms of the International l/4-

inch log rule , which measures the approximate yield of green 

lumber cut to standard specifications. 

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 the stem portion of saw-timber and pole-timber 

trees from stump to a minimum top d. Lb. of 4 inches, or 

to the limit of potent ial merchantability for saw timber. 
Stand-size class 

Large saw timber. --Stands having a m1.m.mum net volume of 

1500 board fee t per a cre and having mor e than half of this 

volume in trees 15.0 inches d. b. h. and lar ger. 

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

feet per acre and having a t l ea st ha lf of t his volume in 

trees smaller than 15.0 inches d. b. h. 

Pole timber.--Stands failing t o mee t the saw=timber stand 

specificati ns ~ but a t least 10 percent stocked wit h poletimber and l arger trees and with a t least half the minimum 

stocking in pol e- timber trees. 

Seedlings and sapling_s. --Stands no t qualifying as either 

saw-timber or pole-t imber stands but having at least 150 

seedlings and saplings of commercial species per acre. 

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

Hardwood log grades4/ 

Grade l. - ·-But t logs at least 14.0 inches (upper logs at 

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

Minimum length of but t logs is 10 fee t ; 8 feet for upper 

logs. Five-sixths of the sur fa ce on t he t hree best faces 

must be clear of defe ct. Two clear cuttings are allowed 

on any face , but t he mi nimum l engt h of cut tings is 7 feet 

for butt logs and 5 feet f or upper l og s. Cull deductions 

including sweep cannot exceed 25 percent fo r butt logs and 

40 per cent for upper logs. On t he average such logs will 

normally yield at lea st 65 percent No. 1 common and better 

lumber. 

Grade 2. --Logs at least 12 inche s in diamet er inside bark 

at the small end. Minimum lengt h i s 8 f eet . Two-thirds of 

the surface on the thr'ee best fa ces must be cl ear of defect. 

Three clear cut tings ar e allowed on any face, but the minimum lengt h of cuttings is 3 feet. Cull dedu ctions including 

sweep cannot exceed 50 percent. On t he aver age such logs 

for most species will normally yiel d at l ea st 40 percent 

No. 1 common and better l umber. 

y The hardwood log grades used are essentially those 

published as "Inter im Sawl og Grades fo r Sout hern Hardwoods " by 

C. R. Lockard and R. D. Carpenter , Souther n For est Experiment 

Station, 1946. Persons inter ested in detailed specifications 

should consult this publication. 

33 
34 

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 timbers. On the average such logs for 

most species in Indiana will normally yield less than 25 

percent No . l common and better lumber. 
Softwoods 

Pine includes: 

Virginia pine 

Shortleaf pine 

Pitch pine 

White pine 

SPECIES LISTED 

Other softwoods include : 

Hardwoods 

Baldcypress 

Redcedar 

Hemlock 

White oak 

Chestnut oak 

Other white oaks include~ 

Post oak 

Swamp white oak 

Swamp chestnut oak 

Overcup oa k 

Bur oak 

Chinquapin oak 

Black oak includes: 

Black oak 

Scarlet oak 

Northern red oak includes; 

Northern red oak 

Swamp red oak 

Cherrybark 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 (American) 

Ash 

~inus virgi niana 

- Pi nus echinata 

- Pinus rigi da 

- Pinus strobus 

- Ta xodi um distichum - Juniperus virginiana 

- Tsuga canadensis 

- Quer cus alba 

Quercus montana 

- Quercus stellata 

- Quercus bicolor 

- Quercu§_ prinus 

- Quer cus lyrata 

- Quercus macrocar12a 

- Quercus muehlenbergii 

- Quercus velutina 

- Quercus cocci.nea 

- Que r cus boreal i s 

- Quercus falcata var. 

£9qOdaefolia - Quercus falcata var. 

leUCOJ2hylla 

- Quer cus falcata 

- Quercus 12alustris 

- Quercus J2hellos - Quercus nigra - Quercus imbricaria 

- Ca r ya spp. - Ulmus spp. 

- Acer rubrum ~ Acer saccharinum 

- Acer ne9..!d_ndo 

- Acer sa ccharum - Platanus occidentalis - Fraxinus spp. 

35 
Yellow~poplar 

Cottonwood (Eastern) 

Cottonwood (Swamp) 

Sweetgum 

Blackgum 

Blackgum (Swamp) 

Beech 

Black walnut 

Other hardwoods - i nclude all 

species. 

- Liriodendron tulipifera 

-Populus deltoi des 

- Populus heterophylla 

- Liguidambar styraciflua 

~ Nyssa sylva t ica 

~ Nyssa aguati ca 

- Fagus grandifolia 

- Juglans nigra 

other commerc i al hardwood 

Noncommercial species - include spe cies tha t do not normally 

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

alder, and serviceberry. 

36 
{ 

TERRITORY SERVED BY THE 

CENTRAL STATES FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION 

FOREST SERVICE 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

IOWA 

0 

0 

MISSOURI 

ILLINOIS 

'tf C. S. F. E. S. HEADQUARTERS 

0 RESEARCH CENTERS 

fl. EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS 

INDIANA