Influences of spacing on radial growth and percentage latewood of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar

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Abstract
Growth in ring width and percentage latewood on a very good site is described for 21-yr-old Douglas fir (P. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), 20-yr-old western hemlock (T. heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and western redcedar (T. plicata Donn) planted at 5 spacings (0.91 to 4.57 m). Cores extracted at breast height are used to show the effects of spacing through growth rate and crown development, and of age through number of rings from pith for the years 1965 to 1976. Percentages of latewood measured by binocular microscope are compared with results obtainable by X-ray methods for analysis of ring widths and densities. Influences of spacing on wood quality are discussed. Wide initial spacings increase ring width and decrease percentage latewood significantly, but the reduced costs and increased sizes at wide spacings provide more than adequate compensation for the moderate reduction in wood quality.

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