Old Major
Ring counts are not foolproof! Trees may produce “false rings” during years of unusual weather conditions. For example, drought followed by high rain can trigger a secondary growth ring in the same year. Cooler climates are less likely to experience this kind of growth. There can also be missing rings in years of extreme drought or defoliation. The older the tree, the more opportunities there are for abnormalities, too. Maine has a fairly consistent climate without extreme drought or rainfall. Therefore, using ring counts is the best method for estimating the age of a tree and placing it in a historical context.
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Pasture Project:
To properly map this part of the forest, we need to date all the large pines in this area. From that we can more definitively spell out the history of this tract. The age of a standing tree can be estimated by measuring the circumference and applying the standard growth rates of the particular species. The most accurate method to pinpoint the age of a tree is to simply count the growth rings. For living trees an increment borer is used to extract a small core sample. An increment borer with the required bits costs a few hundred dollars. We are seeking volunteers to participate in this project.
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