Bulletin No. 19

The variation in log quality in Pinus radiata D. Don on a range of sites.  J.P. Wright.  1967.  Forests Commission, Victoria.  28 pp.

SUMMARY

Various parameters of log quality of P. radiata and their variation with locality and site quality were examined in 16 years old plantations in four localities in Victoria. The sites examined covered a wide range of stand productivity and were typical of many of the present and proposed plantation areas in the State.

Branch size, nodal swelling, green level and bark thickness each increased with site index in each locality. On the other hand, taper decreased with increasing site index. Variations in these parameters also occurred between stands of similar site index in different localities. In general, between-locality differences were as great as within-locality differences.

Crown defects and frequency of stem cones varied little with localities but showed wide between-locality variation. Average internode length, number of branches per whorl and stem defect varied little with locality or with site index.