All four experimental blocks are low in elevation, have low topographic
relief, are located on an outwash ice contact landform with deep
sandy soil, and are similar in climate (average annual temperature
= 3.9 8C; average annual precipitation = 70.0 cm; MRCC,
2006). According to National Forest records, study stands
regenerated naturally after a seed tree cut (10% residual pine)
between 1910 and 1912 and have since been entered two to three
times for thinning (Palik et al., 2003b).