Vol. 15—1961 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

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The managementprooedures reco~nded are based on sound ecological
,t-1rinciples as revealed by the published literature (7,,8,,9) a.nd are in actual
commercial praotioe by the more progressive utilities and state Forestry
Depar:t~nts (lO/ll). In the oommunities represented, three slightly different,management
procedures are required to produce a,dosivable vegetation
pattern.
(1) Central part of rgght-of-W!\y'.t directly under! the wires. All tallgrowing
trees whio might eventually grow or fall into the lines
are removed. Low-growing shrubs and seattered taller shrubs are
preserved, In general, shrubs tha.t eventually grow over 3 1 in
height should be removed if they occur in large colonies which
spread over the ground for distances of 25 t or more. A trail 8­
10 1 in width, prefera.bly oomposed of grasses, should be maintained
in order to permit access for inspection and repair. A similar
pattern is reoommendodaround the bases of poles and towers.
(2) The sides of the right-of-waX, between the outermost wires and
the forest edge. TaIl-growing trees which might eventually grow
or fall into the lines are removed. Therefore, along the sides
all shrubs and low-growing trees are preserved to form the densest
possible cover so as to resist future invasion by trees.
(3) Forest e e adjacent to the right-of-w .. Here tall-growing trees
are remove e ore they reach the ed.gh of the wires. This
eliminates the danger of trees falling into the wires and avoids
costly cutting operations 111the future.
The pattern created is a V or valley-like effect in which only low
vegetation persists in the center of the right-of-way with taller growth
along the edges on both sides.
Nature of the Vegetation
'Vilhenestablished in 1953, two distinct cover types--shrubland and
sprout-hardwoods--were recognized. The former, covering one-third of the
line, was dominated by dense thickets of greenbrier and sawbrier (Smilax
rotundifolia, §.. slauca) and sumac (~ copallina) interspersed with other
shrubs and tree growth. The more commontrees included red maple (AceI'
rubrum) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Herbaceous cover was limited
to occasional openings. In the sprout-hardwoods type an upland and lowland
phase was recognized. In the former, various oaks--white, scarlet, red and
black (Querous alba, 9.. cocoinea, 9,. rubra, 9,. velutina) along with black
birch (Betula len:ta) we~e dominant, while in the wetter areas, red maple was
most common. Other trees on the line included hickory (Carya sPPJ, aspen
(Populus spp), gray birch (Betula .populifolia), tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera),
sassafras (s,assafras albidum), wh:te ash (FlllQd.nusamericana). In
some areas shrub growth was soattered; in other sections it formed continuous
cover.
425.
In surveying the easement, over forty species of desirable shrubs and
low-growing trees were. found. Amongthose shrubs most frequently encountel'en __
- which do not grow over 3' in height and are permissible w~ver they occur .
on the right-oi-way, are sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina). sheep lanrel