DYNAMICS OF WHITE-PINE IN NEW-ENGLAND

The growth, regeneration, and quality of white pine between the 1970's and 1980's were analyzed for the six-state New England region. Growth was comparable among ail states except for Rhode Island where the gro wth (1.71%) was low in comparison with other states and with the growt h of red maple (4.29%) within the state. For all states, the proportio n of acreage in white pine seedling/sapling stands was too small (8%) to maintain the current volume and acreage of the species. However, st ems in the 2- to 10-inch diameter class were adequately J-shaped over all states to sustain the species. Because many of these small stems m ust be in small openings or under partial canopies, efforts to regener ate and release white pine seem warranted. The percentage of volume in grades 1 and 2 more than doubled between the 1970's and 1980's in all states except Massachusetts and Connecticut where the percentage rema ined about constant.