Sawlogs are in short supply in northern Ontario, and thinning has been suggested as one way to improve the situation. The only rotation-age jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) thinning trial in the region was examined to assess how commercial thinning influenced wood quality. This report covers an unreplicated trial of a 65-year chronology of pith to bark relative densities and growth rates based on X-ray densitometry of breast-height increment cores taken from trees on two thinned plots (average spacing 2.6 and 3.4 m) and an unthinned control (average spacing 1.7 m). The trees on the treatment plots responded to thinning by producing wood with significantly lower relative density than those on the control plot. This trend continued much longer than reported for other pines and could negatively affect pulp yield or mechanical properties of lumber. Enhanced earlywood growth caused a drop in the proportion of latewood that resulted in the decline in density. Thinning may have improved moisture availability during the early and middle season and encouraged earlywood growth. Density and growth rate differences became apparent soon after treatment. Early, rapid, and inexpensive estimates of the product potential of younger thinning trials are possible using the techniques demonstrated here.

A naturally regenerated jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trial established in 1966 in New Brunswick was studied to determine how three precommercial thinning intensities (1.22 m × 1.22 m, 1.52 m × 1.52 m, and 2.13 m × 2.13 m) and a control (154 trees in total) affected tree growth and lumber quality. Mild (thinned to 1.22 m) and moderate (1.52 m) thinning had a modest impact on tree growth after 34 years (stand age 59). However, intensive thinning (2.13 m, or 2212 stems/ha) increased tree height by 13.1% compared with the control, whereas tree diameter and merchantable stem volume per tree increased by >20% and >75%, respectively. Yields of No. 2 and Better increased slightly with increasing thinning intensity, but lumber bending properties decreased with increasing thinning intensity. There was, respectively, >20% and >15% difference in lumber strength (modulus of rupture) and stiffness (modulus of elasticity) between the mild (1.22 m) and intensive (2.13 m) thinnings. Intensive precommercial thinning (2.13 m) is recommended for increased volume growth, but rotation age (>59 years) should not be reduced if lumber bending properties are of concern.

Precommercial thinning (PCT) is often used to improve stand growth and value. While PCT may accelerate tree growth and reduce mortality, it may also have a negative effect on product quality. This study examined the effect of moderate and heavy thinning on tree growth, lumber recovery and quality in a natural balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] PCT trial 35 years after thinning. Compared with the control, the heavy thinning increased merchantable tree diameter, stem volume per tree and lumber volume recovery per tree by 41.1%, 100.9% and 92.7%, respectively, reduced the Select Structural grade (the best grade) recovery by 33.7%. Thinning did not affect the no. 2 and better grade yield. There was a 12.2% and 15.0% difference, respectively, in the lumber bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) between the control and heavy thinning. Moderate thinning had little impact on the visual grade recovery, lumber bending MOE and MOR. Heavy thinning is recommended if the goal is to get sizeable sawlogs in the shortest time, whereas moderate thinning is preferable if the intention is to minimize the negative effects on lumber quality while retaining modest tree growth and lumber recovery. Overall, PCT of very dense young balsam fir stands appears to be an effective and viable silvicultural treatment.

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A number of basic wood quality characteristics were evaluated in 10 European larch (Larixdecidua Mill.) trees, 5 from each of two rapidly growing plantations in eastern Ontario (approximately 30 years old) and western Quebec (approximately 25 years old). Characteristics evaluated included growth rate, relative density, fibre dimensions, longitudinal shrinkage, alcohol–benzene and water-soluble extractives, and Klason lignin. Radial and longitudinal patterns of variation in wood characteristics were examined and particular attention was given to the distribution of juvenile wood within the stems. Extractive contents were more closely related to the extent of heartwood and sapwood in the stems than to differences between juvenile and mature wood. Relative density was generally lower at the centre of the stem than in the mature outer wood, but the change was usually gradual, with no distinct boundary between juvenile and mature wood zones. The most useful characteristic for delimiting the juvenile wood zone appeared to be longitudinal shrinkage. On this basis, the transition from juvenile to mature wood occurs at about 15 rings out from the pith at breast height. Ranking of individual trees for wood density was judged to be reliable at about 7 years of age at this height level.