Green River Recreational Area, MA   dbhg-@comcast.net
  Mar 05, 2005 17:27 PST 
ENTS:

    Today Susan Scott and I slugged around in the snow to get a better documentation of the trees growing in a park on the Green River flood plain in Greenfield, MA. Soils are clay-silt. Cottonwoods and sycamore were initially our main quary, but we quickly realized that we should broaden our measurement focus. The catch of the day is as follows:

Species               Height      Circumference
Sycamore             128.7        8.9
Sycamore             121.8        6.0
Sycamore             110.0       8.2
N. Red Oak          116.9     11.1
Green Ash               90.2      8.2
Pignut Hickory       106.8       6.2
Shagbark Hickory 112.6       5.6
Cottonwood           107.8       7.8
Cottonwood            102.1    10.5

   There are sufficient species to give a 10-species Rucker index. We'll finish next time. The six we got yielded an index of 110.5. A 5-species Rucker index yields 114.56.
   Species left to measure include white pine, American beech, black willow, and sugar maple.
   Our measurements of the tall sycamore were particularly satisfying. On the downhill, across the stream measurement, I got 128.6. From the hill above the sycamore, I got 128.7. Susan got 128.44 from upon the hill. So 3 measurements involving 2 set of equipment yields measurements differing by only 3 inches.
   Susan is becoming quite proficient. She is destined to make many excellent contributions for ENTS.

Bob