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salvage. To harvest trees that are dead or in poor condition but can still yield a forest product.
sample. A small collection from some larger population, about which a woodland owner wishes information.
sample tree. A representative or average-sized tree, chosen for detailed measurement of condition, size, growth, or quality.
sapling. A young tree of small diameter, typically 2 to 5 in d.b.h.
sapwood. The light-colored wood that appears on the outer portion of a cross section of a tree. Composed of dead cells; serves to conduct water and minerals to the crown. A minimum of 1 in of sapwood is required on all poles to ensure proper absorption of preservatives. Also termed "xylem."
saw log. A log large enough to be sawn into lumber.
sawmill. A plant at which logs are sawed into salable products, including all the machinery and buildings necessary for the operation of the plant.
sawtimber. Trees that yield logs suitable in size and quality for the production of lumber.
scale. The estimated sound volume of a log or group of logs in terms of a given log rule or formula; used to estimate the sound volume of a log or group of logs. See log rule.
scale stick. A graduated stick for measuring the diameters and contents of logs; both measures are stamped on the stick.
scalp. To physically remove the sod or surface layer of debris, to expose mineral soil for tree planting. scarify. To disturb the forest floor and top soil in preparation for natural regeneration or direct seeding or planting.
scarify. To disturb the forest floor and top soil in preparation for natural regeneration or direct seeding or planting.
schoolmarm. Logger's slang for a tree with one or more trunks.
season. To dry lumber, either in the open or in a dry kiln. seasoning. The process of drying (curing) lumber or other forms of wood to improve its properties: the material below the point at which the wood fibers are saturated.
seasoning. The process of drying (curing) lumber or other forms of wood to improve its properties: natural (air or underground drying) or artificial (kiln drying, electrical drying, oil drying, etc.).
second growth. A second forest that develops after harvest of the original, natural forest. In the Pacific Northwest, these forests also are often called young growth stands.
section. A unit of land area equal to 640 acres, 6,400 sq chains, I sq mile, or 80 chains on each side.
seedbed. In natural plant reproduction, the soil or forest floor on which seed falls; in nursery practice, a
prepared area in which seed is sown.
seeding. A reforestation method by sowing seed aerially or by hand. Often done immediately after harvest so that a new forest is started the next grow- ing season.
seedling. A small tree grown from seed. Usually the term is restricted to trees less than 2 in d.b.h.
seed year. A year in which a given species produces (over a considerable area) a seed crop greatly in excess of the normal. Applied usually to trees of irregular or infrequent seed production.
seed tree. 1. A tree that produces seed.
2. Trees reserved in a harvest operation to supply seed. See reproduction methods.
seed zone. Areas of similar climatic and elevational conditions, used to specify where tree seed was collected and where trees from such seed are most likely to be successfully grown.
selection cut. See reproduction methods.
severance tax. A tax paid on forest products after they are cut.
shade tolerance. The capacity of a tree or plant species to develop and grow in the shade of and in competition with other trees or plants. See tolerance.
shake. 1. A lengthwise separation of wood (usually caused by wind) that usually occurs between and parallel to the growth layers.
2. A thin section split from a bolt of wood and used
for roofing or siding.
shear. 1. In Christmas tree culture, to shape and trim back the branches to make dense foliage and give tree a conical shape.
2. In felling, a mechanical device that pinches trees off at the stump. natural (air or underground drying) or artificial
shelterbelt. . A wind barrier of living trees and/or shrubs, drying, electrical drying, oil drying, etc.). maintained to protect farm fields or homesteads. Syn. belt, windbreak.
shelterwood. See reproduction methods.
shrinkage. The contraction of wood caused by drying growth stands. Shrinkage values are usually expressed as a percentage of specific dimensions (or the volume) of the wood when green.
shrub. A woody perennial plant (lives more than I year) that differs from a perennial herb by its woody, persistent stems, and from a tree by its low stature and branches that start from the base.
sidecast. Earth and other material generated by roadbuilding and deposited on the downhill side of the road.
silver thaw. A weather phenomenon in which great quantities of ice collect on trees and other vegetation, often causing much breakage.
silviculture. The art and science of producing and tending a forest; the theory and practice of controlling forest establishment, composition, growth, and quality of forests to achieve the objectives of management.
site. An area of land, especially with reference to its capacity to produce vegetation as a function of environmental factors (climate, soil, biology, etc.).
site class. A grouping of similar site indexes that indicates relative productivity. The common system for the Douglas-fir region includes f ive site classes, with 1 (1) the most productive and 5 (V) the least. site index. A measure of forest site quality, based on the height (in ft) that dominant trees will reach at a given age. For Douglas-fir, this is commonly "pressed as either a SO- or 100-year site index.
site index. A measure of forest site quality, based on the height (in ft) that dominant trees will reach at a given age. For Douglas-fir, this is commonly expressed as either a 50- or 100- year site index.
site preparation. Any treatment of a forest site to prepare it for establishment of a plantation or for natural regeneration.
skidding. The process of dragging logs from the woods to a landing, usually applied to ground-based operations. A similar term, used especially with cable or aerial logging systems, is "yarding."
skid road, skid trail. A pathway over which logs are skidded.
skyline logging. A type of cable logging in which the mainline is stationary and a carriage moves up and down it, collecting turns of logs.
slab. The exterior portion of a log removed in sawing timber.
slash. Tree tops, branches, bark, and other debris, left after a forest operation. The process of cutting down undesirable vegetation.
snag. A standing, dead tree or a standing section of the stem of a tree broken off at the height of 20 ft or more. If less than 20 ft, it is properly termed a "stub.
softwood. One of the botanical group of trees that generally have needle or scalelike leaves-the conifers. Also the wood produced by such trees, regardless of texture or density.
soil horizon. A layer of soil with distinct characteristics that separate it from other soil layers. Commonly, a forest soil will have 0, A, B, and C horizons.
soil moisture. The relative amount of water in the soil; usually applied to upper levels of soil, occasionally to humus layer.
soil profile. A vertical section of soil showing the nature and thickness of the various horizons, often used in soil classification.
soil series. Groupings of soils with similar profile characteristics.
spar. A pole, tower, or tree used in cable logging to raise the mainline off the ground. sprout. A young tree developed directly from the base, stump, or root of another tree. Relatively common among hardwoods; with conifers, typical only of redwoods. Syn. sucker.
sprout. A young tree developed directly from the base, stump, or root of another tree. Relatively common among hardwoods; with conifers, typical only of redwoods. Syn. sucker.
species (of trees). Trees having very similar genetic makeup, so that they freely interbreed and have common characteristics. In common language, a "kind" or "variety." Each species is identified by a scientific name that consists of a genus portion and then a species portion (Tsuga heterophylla, western).
spike top. A tree with a dead top, usually a mark of declining vigor.
springwood. The less dense, larger-celled, first-formed wood of an annual growth ring. spud. A hand tool used in stripping bark from felled trees. staff compass. See compass.
spud. A hand tool used in stripping bark from felled trees.
staff compass. See compass.
stand. An aggregation of trees occupying a specific area and uniform enough in composition (species), age, and arrangement to be distinquishable from the forest on adjoining areas.
stand density. A relative measure of amount of stocking on a forest area, compared with other areas.
stand table. A summary table showing the number of trees by species and diameter class of any given area.
stand, type of. mixed. A stand in which more than 25% of the trees in the main crown canopy are of a species other than the major species.
pure. A stand in which at least 80-90% of the trees in the dominant and codoininant crown classes are of a single species.
stem. The trunk of a tree. stocking. The number of trees in a forest. Usually expressed as trees per acre or some relative measure (well stocked/fully stocked, overstocked, under-stocked).
stocking. The number of trees in a forest. Usually expressed as trees per acre or some relative measure (well stocked/fully stocked, overstocked, understocked).
stratification. The technique of placing seeds in a cool, moist medium (such as sand or peat) to imitate winter conditions and aid germination when planted.
stumpage. The value of timber as it stands uncut in the woods; in a general sense, the standing timber itself. Can also denote price paid for this timber.
stump sprout. See sprout.
sucession. The replacement of one plant community by another in progressive development toward climax vegetation.
succession, types of. primary. Plant succession on newly formed soils or surfaces, "posed for the first time, that have never borne vegetation.
secondary. Plant succession following the destruc-tion of a part or all of the original vegetation.
sucker. A sprout from the lower portion of a stem, especially from the root.
sucker knot. A knot associated with a limb growing nearly parallel to the main stem. Sucker knots are not permitted on poles because they funnel water into the pole, promoting decay even if treated. A relative measure of amount of stocking on a forest area, compared with other areas.
summerwood. The denser, later-formed wood of an annual growth ring. The cells are smaller, with thick cell walls, so they usually give the layer a darker color than that of the springwood. sunscald. Death of cambial tissue on one side of a tree, caused by exposure to direct sunlight. suppressed tree. See overtopped.
summerwood. The denser, later-formed wood of an annual growth ring. The cells are smaller, with thick cell walls, so they usually give the layer a darker color than that of the springwood. sunscald. Death of cambial tissue on one side of a tree, caused by exposure to direct sunlight. suppressed tree. See overtopped.
sunscald. Death of camibial tissue on one side of a tree, caused by exposure to direct sunlight.
suppressed tree. See overtopped.
surface runoff. Water that moves over the ground surface. With the exception of established drainage channels, uncommon on undisturbed forest land.
sustained yield. A policy, method, or plan of forest management that calls for continuous production, to achieve, at the earliest practicable time, an approximate balance between net growth and amount harvested.
swamp. To clear the ground of underbrush, fallen trees, and other obstructions, to facilitate such later operations as logging or surveying.
sweep. A gradual (but pronounced) bend in a log, pole, or piling; considered a defect.
swell-butted. Describes a tree greatly enlarged at the base. Syn. bottle-butted, chum-butted.
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Forest Glossary