Hemlock Forest
Forest CommunityRing counts of increment cores from the two large hemlocks in this scene confirm that both are more than 300 years old. These are certainly the oldest trees in the town forest, and likely the oldest in Salisbury. A few large chestnut oaks and white oaks in the stand may be nearly as old, but most trees are much younger. GeomorphologySoils here are derived from glacial till. Soils are thin near outcrops of Cheshire quartzite and Moosalamoo phyllite, but are deeper elsewhere. The topography is determined by the surface of the underlying bedrock. GigaPanThis panorama is made from 204 images taken on October 29, 2009. The field of view is 116 degrees wide by 111 degrees high. |
HistoryIt is unusual to find living trees that were part of the forest canopy before Europeans colonized the area. Few settlers were in Salisbury until the French and Indian War ended in 1763 at which time these trees were 50-100 years old and 8-10 inches in diameter. Hemlocks can live 1000 years, so these impressive trees are a pale reminder of the majestic original forest. Important Species
|