GIV - Old Pine Forest Page

OLD PINE FOREST

A sub-department of the Lone Tree Hill Group

This page designed and edited by Thomas Bemis and Calvin Alexander

Other Group members include Owen, David, and Eric, led by Paul

This is a plot of land which we call the old pine forest. This area is located just south of the peak of lone tree hill. The reason we assigned it this title is because it is composed of several large white pines. After collecting random tree core samples, we determined the approximate age of the trees. By counting the growth rings in the field we found the trees were from 80 to 100 years old. Another method we used to calculate age is "whirl counting." When pine trees grow and develop their shady upper limbs, the lower branches are deprived or sunlight causing them to die and fall off. This annual process leaves behind circular patterns around the tree's trunk. You can arrive at a rough age estimate by counting these from the tree's base up to the top.

This is a photo that we found in the Shelburne Farms archives. It shows rows of young pinelings and was taken around 1900 making them near 100 years old now. This corresponds with our core dating data. This is us digging an effective soil pit. Notice the immense strength exerted while we wield our tools.

These grand old pines have provided a thick canopy, leaving the under story fairly open. This allows for people to explore it easily. This also allows for a new generation of undergrowth to fill in. This mainly consistists of young maples, because they flourish in shady environment. We have reasons to assume that this area was once an open field. It may also have been a tree plantation directed by the Webb family, the owners of Shelburne Farms. After digging a soil test pit, about 2 feet deep, we revealed a definite soil differentiation. About 7 inches deep in the pit, the soil color turned from a dark brown to a light copper tone. This kind of layering is recognizable as a plow layer, meaning that this land was once plowed for agricultural uses. Judging by the orientation of the trees as well as their straight shape, they probably grew up in a open area with plenty of sunlight and excess space.

Owen with a menacing grimace as he forces tree core auger into this beastly pine in order to collect a core sample. This shows a line of soil as extracted from the earth with an auger. Notice if you can the color gradation. The dirt goes from a dark blackish-brown to a a more light reddish-gold hue. At about 3 feet deep it turns to a soft clay formed by shale deposits. In the background, Cal wrestles a giant earthworm.


This is a photo that we found in the Shelburne Farms archives. It shows rows of young pinelings and was taken around 1900 making them near 100 years old now. This corresponds with our core dating data.	This is us digging an effective soil pit. Notice the immense strength exerted while we wield our tools.


Owen with a menacing grimace as he forces tree core auger into this beastly pine in order to collect a core sample.	This shows a line of soil as extracted from the earth with an auger. Notice if you can the color gradation. The dirt goes from a dark blackish-brown to a a more light reddish-gold hue. At about 3 feet deep it turns to a soft clay formed by shale deposits. In the background, Cal wrestles a giant earthworm.