I can only address the Northern quarter of the State, as that is where I
live and am familiar with. Appalachian uplands is not a term used in these
parts. First, realize that the Adirondack Park is not like other parks. To
this day the State owns less than half of the land contained in the park.
They continue to purchase privately owned lands as they become available
and they have money. They also purchase conservation easements.
Reforstation around here did include some 'submarginal' farmlands. At
times this meant plots of land that were too small or fields that were too
scattered to constitute an economically viable unit for farming. The size
of a farm that is viable has grown continuously over the years. But much
of the land that was purchased inside the park had been 'pulped over' or
clearcut for papermaking. At times this land was farmed for a few years,
but the soil was thin and susceptible to erosion, so was usually abandoned
within a generation. Most of the reforestation occurred in the thirties,
with the labor supplied by the CCC's, or Civilian Conservation Corps. They
planted vast tracts as well as 50-200 acre ones. Not all of the land
planted belonged to the State. County lands were also planted. Virtually
all were planted to pine, although there are also some tamarac and other
plantings. Tamaracs are an interesting tree in that while they are
conifers (have needles for leaves and produce seeds in cones) they are not
evergreen. In the fall the needles turn yellow and fall off. Outside the
Park, some of the lands that were reforested were wetlands, or lands that
had wetlands sprinkled through them. For the lands outside the park, the
timber these plantings produces is still a major economic boost to the
region. Within the park, much of the land is in a land use catagory that
precludes cutting or removing and trees (Forever Wild).
Hope this helps.
Wayne

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Wayne L. Miller                         Special Collections Librarian
Feinberg Library                        2 Draper Avenue
518-564-5206                            Plattsburgh, NY 12901
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        "I wonder what will happen today!"  -Maggie Muggins-
"Not even God can change history...which is why he tolerates historians."
                                        -Voltaire
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