The elms of Wales

Two methods of biometrical analysis were used to characterizea collection of 178 leaf samples assembled in the course ofan all-Wales survey of elms made in 1977–78. All sampleswere referable to either U. glabra, U. minor var. minor, U.minor var. vulgaris (= U. procera)orU. x hollandica. The variationwithin each taxon is described. Elm regions are demarcated tosupplement those already described for England. U. glabra isthe only elm believed to-be native. It is thought most likelythat the main Welsh population of U. minor var. vulgaris, inGlamorgan, was introduced from Somerset some time before theNorman Conquest. U. minor var. minor is rare throughout Walesand could be of 18th century origin; its possible spread alongdrovers' routes is considered. Some notomorphs of U. x hollandicamust have been introduced as such. Others probably arose inWales from hybridization involving U. glabra, U. minor var.vulgaris and U.x hollandica var. hollandica.     

Comparison between empirical and theoretical biomass allometric models and statistical implications for stem volume predictions

Comparisons between empirical and theoretical allometric modelsfor estimating tree biomass and the statistical caveats attachedto empirical stem volume equations are presented in this paper.First, the elastic and stress similarity models, derived fromfirst biomechanical principles, as well as predictions obtainedfrom geometric similitude, were validated against allometricequations that relate dry above-ground tree biomass M to stemdiameter D. In addition, a recent geometric model which predictsthat M D^8/3 was also validated against a pooled dataset whichconsisted of 764 M-D pairs compiled from empirical studies conductedthroughout the globe and for several tree species. Moreover,59 empirical equations which relate M to D were selected froma European database to validate the aforementioned theoreticalmodels. The analysis indicated that the biomechanical and thegeometric models failed to describe the shape in M-D allometryfor the empirical datasets. Finally, the multicollinearity problem,which is directly related to the reliability of the predictions,was analysed for stem volume equations (V). In total, 23 empiricalmodels based on the six-parameter formula V = a + bD + cD² +dD³ + eH + fD²H were used in order to pinpoint the dependencybetween the parameters. It is illustrated that parameters a,b and c are highly related to each other, and parameter e isalso related to parameter f. It is concluded that the interrelationshipbetween D and stem height (H) could be one of the reasons forthis dependency and scepticism should be placed in the reliabilityof V estimates derived from these models.     

THIRTY YEARS' DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORESTATION TECHNIQUES ON DIFFICULT GROUND TYPES IN SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND

The development of ploughing, draining, planting, and the useof turfs and of phosphate is considered in detail for each oftwo main types. For Molinia lands, the 1952 technique securesadequate drainage and a very considerable turnover of turf,and here the spruces Picea abies Karst. and P. sitcbensis Carr.remain the first choice. For Calluna lands, the developmentof methods and the choice of species is more difficult. Thespruces refuse to grow pure and unnursed on the poorer Callunatypes and the use of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), P. contortaDoug., the Mountain pine (P. uncinata Ramond), Japanese larch(Larix leptolepis Gord.), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifoliaBrit.) is discussed. The main requirements for successful afforestationof these ground types are summarized.     

杨树溃疡病引致幼树的生长量损失估测*

杨树溃疡病经常在幼树干部形成大溃疡斑，造成枝枯和死树。以胸径下病斑面积与树周面积的比值计算的发病程度（X5）与胸径年生长量（Y2）之间呈显著相关。通过回归建立了三个品种不同病情下的生长量模型：美×559：Y2＝0．15406＋118．52194／（102．9113＋X^25)加杨：Y2＝－0．4136＋278．32113／（133．0115＋X^25)小×黑：Y2＝－0．08487＋110．16972／（131．4548＋X^25)三个估算模型经数学检验合理；坐标曲线符合植物病理学原理，可作为该病病情分级和生长量损失估算的参考。     

Performance and Frost Hardiness of Picea sitchensis x Picea glauca Hybrids in Scotland

The growth of seven Picea sitchensis x Picea glauca hybridswas compared with the growth of two P. sitchensis provenancesand Picea glauca var.albertiana at two sites in northern Scotland.The sites were at Aultmore (an exposed, dry site with a mineralsoil) and Shin (a frosty, wet site with deep peat). They wereof the type considered more suited to Pinus contorta than P.sitchensis. At age 10, in 1984, most of the hybrids, at both sites, wereabout 10 and 20 per cent taller than P. sitchensis of Masset(Q.C.I.) and Ketchikan (Alaska) provenance, respectively. P.glauca var. albertiana grew very poorly, especially at Aultmore. At Aultmore, the frost hardiness of three of the tallest hybrids,the two P. sitchensis provenances, and P. glauca var.albertiana,was tested at about 3-weekly intervals throughout 1982 and 1983.Detached shoots were subjected to artificial frosts in a programmablechamber. P. glauca var. albertiana was frost susceptible atbudburst, but at all other times it was relatively very frosthardy (eg. to^–10°C in mid-August). Also, the hybridswere consistently more hardy than P. sitchensis of even Ketchikan(Alaska) provenance from July onwards. However, the hybridswere less frost hardy than P. sitchensis of Masset (Q.C.I.)provenance in early spring (they dehardened a week earlier inMarch-April) and their buds were equally as frost susceptibleat the time of budburst. In 1983, trees of P. glauca var. albertianaburst their buds about a week sooner than P. sitchensis. It was concluded that P. sitchensis x P. glauca hybrids canperform better than P. sitchensis at sites considered ‘marginal’for P. sitchensis, and that their good performance may be partlyattributed to, or associated with, their greater summer andautumn frost hardiness. A programme of inter-specific hybridizationis being pursued.     

The tolerance of young trees to applications of clopyralid alone and in mixture with foliar-acting herbicides

The selective herbicide clopyralid is often used to controlcompeting Cirsium arvense in newly planted woodlands. When appliedas an overall spray at different dates in the spring (at 0.2kg acid equivalent (a.e.) ha^–1) to 10 tree species (Fraxinusexcelsior, Prunus avium, Quercus robur, Acer pseudoplatanus,Populus x canadensis cv. ‘Ghoy’, Pseudotsuga menziesii,Pinus nigra ssp. laricio, Larix kaempferi, Picea abies and Piceasitchensis) it did not reduce survival, and had little effecton growth. However, some species showed distortion of the youngestsprayed leaves or needles for several weeks after treatment,particularly F. excelsior, L. kaempferi and P. x canadensis.Sequential applications of clopyralid (first at 0.1 kg a.e.ha^–1 followed by 0.2 kg a.e. ha^–1 after 3 weeks),which are often required to control C. arvense, did not leadto increased leaf damage or growth reduction. Mixtures of clopyralidwith selective graminicides (cycloxydim at 0.45 kg active ingredient(a.i.) ha^–1; fluazifop-p-butyl at 0.38 kg a.i. ha^–1and propaquizafop at 0.15 kg a.i. ha^–1) did not causesignificant adverse effects on survival or growth of any species.If herbicides are required to control mixed stands of susceptibleproblem weeds such as C. arvense and grasses which are overtoppingyoung trees, these herbicide mixtures, applied as overall sprays,are less likely to cause damage to trees than attempts to usedirected applications of broad-spectrum foliar-acting herbicides.     

Silvicultural Characteristics of Abies equi-trojani Aschers-Sinten and Growth Relationships between Pinus nigra Arnold var. pallasiana Endl and Abies equi-trojani in Mixed Natural Forests of Turkey

Pinus nigra Arnold var. pallasiana Endl. and Abies equi-trojaniAschers-Sinten are indigenous species of Turkey. The area ofPinus nigra is very large (more than 2 million hectares) occurringin the west, south and north of Turkey. However, Abies equi-trojanioccurs only in the west of Turkey in the Ida Mountains (Kazdagi)and is of limited area (5500 ha).These two species naturallyform both mixed stands and pure stands in the Ida Mountains. When mixed stands of Pinus nigra and Abies equi-trojani areregenerated, if the seedlings of these two species regeneratesimultaneously, the Pinus nigra will be eliminated from thestand in 15 to 25 years because of the rapid growth of Abiesequi-trojani. In different site conditions, Abies equi-trojanireaches 22–30 m in height and 40–65 cm in diameterin 70 years, whereas Pinus nigra reaches 17–22 m in heightand 25–40cm in diameter in the same period in the sameforest sites.     

Colonization of Two Nothofagus species by Lepidoptera in Southern Britain

Between 1975 and 1982 a study was made of the invertebrate faunacolonizing two deciduous species of southern beech, Nothofagusobliqua and N. procera, introduced into Britain from South America.Special attention was paid to the folivorous larvae of Lepidopterawhich were sampled at 15 localities in southern England, mostlyin Forestry Commission trial plots and arboreta in Gloucestershire. The literature describing the native insect fauna of Nothofagusin Chile and Argentina is briefly reviewed. Mention is alsomade of the few previous records of lepidopterous larvae observedfeeding on Nothofagus in Britain. The larvae of 81 species Lepidoptera are recorded from Nothofagus.Seventy-eight of these were feeding on the foliage, of which73 were found on N. procera and 62 on N. obliqua, although approximately62 per cent of all the larvae collected were from N. obliqua.Faunal differences between the sites studied are briefly described.Two additional species of cutworm larvae are also reported attackingthe roots of Nothofagus seedlings. The changing lepidopterous fauna on Nothofagus from May untilSeptember is described and discussed. Spring-feeding larvaeof Operophtera brumata (L.), Agriopis aurantiaria (Hübn.)and Erannis defoliaria (Clerck) comprised 55 per cent of alllarvae collected on the two hosts, and represented between 68per cent and 87 per cent of those larvae in beating samplescollected in late May and early June. Most of the larvae collected were reared to adult in the laboratoryon a diet of Nothofagus leaves. The majority of these are regardedas polyphagus species although 64 are known to have one of thetwo native Quercus as a host-plant, while 24 have been recordedas feeding on Fagus sylvatica. The relevance of these two generaas sources for the Lepidoptera fauna colonizing Nothofagus isdiscussed. Nothofagus obliqua and N. procera are shown to have acquireda substantial lepidopterous fauna since their introduction intoBritain near the beginning of this century, although most ofthe trees sampled were less than 25 years old. These two speciesof Nothofagus may be vulnerable to defoliation by several speciesof caterpillar, especially if planted as monocultures in areaswhere oak and beech are plentiful. However, their surprisinglylarge insect fauna may be seen to have some value for natureconservation purposes.     

Studies on Ulmus: VII. Essex Elms

This biometrical study is based on a collection of nearly 500leaf samples from every ancient parish in the county. Most ofthe elms could be assigned to one of nineteen groups, 9 of U.carpinifolia, 1 of U. glabra, 2 of U. procera, 3 of putativeF₁ U. carpinifolia x U. glabra, 3 of U. carpinifolia with suspectedintrogression from U. glabra, and 1 of U. carpinifolia x U.procera. U. glabra is indigenous. Most of the U. carpinifolia appearto have spread out from six centres of origin, mostly near thecoast. These elms are very similar to forms now occurring innorth-west France, and it is thought probable that they wereintroduced from there, possibly by the settlers responsiblefor the Red Hills salt workings shortly before the Roman occupation.One group of U. carpinifolia came from Cambridgeshire via theEssex branch of the river Cam. Of the two main populations ofU. procera, that characteristic of south-east Essex is believedto have come from northern Kent, probably from the Hoo peninsula,while the group found in south-west Essex is probably a laterintroduction from further west. Hybridization between introduced U. carpinifolia and nativeU. glabra has occurred on a very large scale and putative F₁hybrids extend in a broad band across the county from the Hertfordshireborder to Suffolk. This hybridization most likely occurred duringthe clearing of the heavily forested part of northern Essexin pre-Conquest times. Subsequently, back crossing occurredbetween these hybrids and U. carpinifolia. Occasional hybridizationalso seems to have occurred between U. procera and the othertwo species. An outline of the probable history of the elm in eastern Englandas a whole concludes the paper.     

The Summerwood: Springwood Ratio in Conifers: How it arises, varies, and affects end use for timber, board, and paper

A theoretical discussion of variation in summerwood and springwoodcontents among conifers. Three methods of measuring these, bycross-sectional area of logs, by dryweight fibre percentage,and by nominal specific gravity, are compared. High-summerwood tissues have a nominal specific gravity of 0?45or over; low-summerwood tissues have a specific gravity below0?45. All conifers have a low summerwood content in their juvenilewood or core wood formed towards their stem-tips. In Pinus,Larix, and Pseudotsuga the summerwood percentage increases markedlywith age, but only in the outer layers towards the butt; inPicea, Abies, and Tsuga similar increases occur, but high-summerwoodtissues are seldom found. Within any species, and for any particulargrowth rate, low-summerwood tissues are characteristic of regionsof high relative humidity where summer water deficits rarelyoccur, such as high altitudes, far northern latitudes, and themaritime climate of western Britain. High-summerwood tissuesdevelop where summer temperatures are high, with associatedstrong sunshine, low relative humidity, and frequent summerwater deficits. High-summerwood tissues have greater strength in compressionand bending, relative to volume; but low-summerwood tissueshave greater strength relative to their weight. Low-summerwoodmaterial has proved satisfactory for most structural purposes,and for the manufacture of several kinds of artificial board.Its technical properties for the making of many types of paperare excellent, provided high resistance to tearing is not required.Likely summerwood content should guide planting programmes andmarketing policies.     

Fomes annosus Butt-Rot of Sitka Spruce IV. Observations on the Distribution of Cryptosporiopsis abietina (Petrak) in the Stems of Rotted Trees

Cryptosporiopsis abietina was isolated from the heartwood of12 out of 18 Sitka spruce suffering from butt rot caused byFomes annosus, but from none of eight healthy trees from thesame plantations. C. abietina was present in a distinct zoneabove the tissue colonised by F. annosus. It was present inboth sound wood, and in wood with stain or incipient decay. C. abietina inhibited the growth of F. annosus on malt agar,and to a lesser extent in autoclaved Sitka spruce heartwood.The possible influence of this potentially antagonistic funguson infection by F. annosus is briefly discussed.     

Root anchorage and stem strength of black spruce (Picea mariana) trees in regular and irregular stands

A tree winching experiment was conducted, simulating wind actionand resulting damage, in order to assess mechanical resistanceof black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) trees in standsof regular and irregular structures. The critical bending moment(M_c) of winched trees was determined and the relationship betweenM_c and tree and stand characteristics was investigated throughstatistical analyses. Stem mass (SW), average spacing betweentrees (S) and height:diameter ratio (H/d.b.h.) were initiallyselected by a screening procedure to predict M_c. Potential differencesbetween stand structures were tested in mixed models using differentsubsets of the data. Included fixed effects varied between thedifferent models. SW was the most useful and significant variablein all models and H/d.b.h. was significant only when snappedtrees were included in the analysis. When decayed samples wereexcluded, resistance to uprooting was higher in irregular stands.Decay seemed to play an important role in irregular stands andshould be investigated further. Since no difference was observedin the relationship between stem mass and critical turning momentbetween distant sites, relationships should be applicable acrosswide regions. This study provides some of the basic relationshipsrequired to model windthrow risk in irregular stands. However,the effects of stand structure on wind load for individual treeswill also need to be considered.     

Optimal planting times for freshly lifted bare-rooted conifers on the North York Moors

Two-year-old Picea sitchensis (Queen Charlotte Islands and Oregonprovenances), Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix kaempferi, Larixeurolepis, Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra var. maritima werelifted at intervals during two winters and planted within 24h on a nearby second rotation site. Physiological conditionat planting, measured by root growth potential and fine rootelectrolyte leakage, and outplanting performance were significantlyinfluenced by lifting date. There were consistent differencesin the species' response to lifting date. Planting out in Septemberresulted in poor survival. Survival of P. sitchensis liftedin October until April was >90 per cent. Pinus sylvestrisand P. nigra had survivals of >90 per cent when lifted inNovember and January respectively until March. There was noclear pattern in P. menziesii performance. Both L. kaempferiand L. eurolepis had two periods of good survival—Octoberand March—with significantly poorer survival and growthassociated with mid-winter planting. The double peak in larchperformance was closely related to root growth potential; lowmid-winter establishment was associated with root growth potentialsof <5 even though the nursery root systems were in excellentcondition as assessed by electrolyte leakage.     

Decay in Norway Spruce Caused by Stereum sanguinolentum Alb. & Schw. ex Fr. Developing from Extraction Wounds

In two stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), plantedin 1952 and 1929 in Yair Hill Forest and Glentress Forest, BordersRegion, two per cent of the trees examined in 1983 had extractiondamage on stems and superficial roots. Extraction wounds were4 and 8 years old respectively and ranged in size from 52 to1099 cm². Infection frequency of the damaged trees was 47 percent and 54 per cent respectively. Stereum sanguinolentum wasthe most common fungus isolated, accompanied by Trichodermaviride Fr; Chaetomium cochlioides Palliser and Heterobasidionannosum (Fr.) Bref. The frequency of isolation of S. sanguinolentumincreased progressively in samples taken from the outside ofstems inwards, whereas the other microorganisms present showedthe opposite pattern. In four trees, T. viride overgrew S. sanguinolentumin the the decay columns. Positive correlations were demonstratedbetween surface area of wounds and vertical extension of decay,tree volume and decay volume, and diameter of stem at breastheight (DBH) and decay volume; whereas a negative correlationoccurred between number of growth rings per 5 cm (measured inwardsfrom the outside of the bole) and radial penetration of decay.The results confirm the importance of S. sanguinolentum as awound pathogen.     

Cherry Leaf Roll Virus in Juglans regia in the United Kingdom

Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) was detected in foliage, pollenor seeds of 43 of 113 mature/overmature Juglans regia L.; twohad foliar yellow-brown ring patterns whereas seven other infectedtrees had leaf necroses. Male catkins of a few infected treeswere malformed and blackened. Infection was rare (3/43) in the widely scattered J. regia ofnorthern England and Scotland, but commoner (40/70) in southernEngland. When J. regia seed was grown in methylbromide treated soil,six per cent (18/300) of the seedlings were symptomlessly infected.Four out of ten groups of imported seedlings were infected toa similar extent, CLRV being present in a total of 40 out of1146 trees aged five years or less. When 3 years old, CLRV infectedJ. regia were shorter and thinner than healthy seedlings. CLRV from walnut was serologically distinguishable from Betula,Prunus, Cornus and Sambucus isolates. One English walnut isolate(Ox) was distinguishable from two Italian walnut isolates. Anisolate (Sr) of CLRV obtained in Finland from Sambucus racemosaL. was antigenically distinct from S. ebulus and S. nigra isolates.     

Species-specific drought effects on flower and fruit production in a Mediterranean holm oak forest

A holm oak forest was exposed to an experimental drought (reductionof 15 per cent soil moisture as predicted for this area forthe next decades by General Circulation Models and ecophysiologicalmodels) during 7 years to elucidate the reproductive responsesof the dominant species Quercus ilex L., Arbutus unedo L. andPhillyrea latifolia L. Soil moisture was partially reduced byplastic strips intercepting rainfall and by ditch exclusionof water runoff. During the period studied, meteorological conditionsand soil moisture were continuously monitored, together withflower and fruit production in the three dominant species. InQ. ilex and A. unedo, flower and specially fruit productionwere strongly correlated with annual rainfall, but not in P.latifolia. The experimental drought reduced flower and fruitproduction in Q. ilex by 30 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively.Reductions in flower and fruit production were not significantin A. unedo and were not observed in P. latifolia. A decreasein production of reproductive structures and the different responseof the species studied to a decrease in water availability couldinduce important changes in the competitive ability of the differentspecies and in the long term in the community species compositionand future distribution of these Mediterranean species.     

The threat of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus Chapuis) to world poplar resources

We describe the life cycle of Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis)(=Platypus mutatus) and the damage it causes to poplar resourcesin Argentina. This insect, native to the subtropical and tropicalareas of South America, has extended its range into temperateregions, reaching as far south as Neuquén in ArgentineanPatagonia. The damage is caused by the adult insects, whichbore large gallery systems into living poplars (Populus spp.),willows (Salix spp.) and many other broadleaf species, includingimportant fruit trees species such as apples (Malus spp.), walnuts(Juglans spp.) and avocados (Persea spp.). The galleries degradethe lumber and weaken the tree stems, which often then breakduring windstorms. A recent introduction of M. mutatus to Italydemonstrates that this insect can be transported long distancesbetween countries, and therefore presents a threat worldwide—particularlyto poplar cultivation. We review the taxonomic nomenclaturefor this pest, provide a summary of the life cycle, hosts anddamage and summarize actions taken to reduce the risk of introductionof M. mutatus to Canada.     

Variography and kriging allow screening Pinus pinaster resistant to Armillaria ostoyae in field conditions

Armillaria ostoyae is an important disease of Pinus pinasterin north-west Spain, which kills trees following a heterogeneousspatial structure. In a progeny trial of P. pinaster seedlings,spatial heterogeneity and autocorrelation of neighbour mortalitycaused by A. ostoyae impeded proper analysis of the diseaseincidence. We used variography and kriging methods to describethe spatial distribution of the infection probability and thegenetic variation of the resistance to A. ostoyae among families.The spatial structure of disease incidence was modelled, andthe probability of survival was corrected by kriging at eachtree location. Cumulative mortality 3 years after planting was65.1 per cent. Significant differences among P. pinaster familiesin terms of mortality to A. ostoyae were found, with low individual(h = 0.08) and moderate family (h = 0.35) heritability estimates. According to a theoretical semivariogram, the patch size ofthe disease incidence was 63 m wide. This is the first timevariography and kriging are used to select P. pinaster resistantto Armillaria root rot. It is concluded that geostatistics providesforest pathologists with a powerful tool for screening resistanttrees in field conditions.     

Spring Frosts Affecting the Establishment of Second Rotation Crops in Thetford Chase

Spring frosts in Thetford Chase cause a major reduction in thegrowth of young Corsican pine and very severe frosts or repeatedfrosting may kill the trees. Records of temperatures taken ona range of sites and in different conditions have shown that(a) spring frosts occur every year at Thetford, but the severefrosts which kill trees outright may only occur once every fewyears, (b) frost damage to plants mainly occurs when the treesare less than 18 in (45 cm) tall, (c) forest clearings largerthan 5 acres (2 ha) do not act as artificial frost hollows,(d) cold air flows down slopes of more than 1° and accumulatesat the bottom, forming a frosty zone. Studies showed that frost damage can be minimized by (a) completecultivation, (b) deep ploughing, (c) underplanting, and (d)strip felling. The benefits of these measures are demonstratedby temperature records and by measurements of tree growth. Methods of reducing frost damage are necessary in areas proneto spring frosts if crops of Corsican pine are to be successfullyestablished at low cost.