• Minerowicz, Edward A.
  University of Maine
  

Four live balsam fir, and 16 budworm-killed balsam fir from four time-since-death groups (0-1 yr, 1-2 yrs, 2-3 yrs, >3 yrs) were harvested in northern Maine. Trees were cut into 4-ft bolts to a 3 in. diameter. Moisture content and specific gravity were detmined at each 4-ft level. Bark content and chip size distributions were determined for each tree. Whole tree moisture content of budworm-killed fir decreased by 14.2 percent each year after death. Whole tree specific gravities were not significantly different among groups. Decreases in moisture content and specific gravity were greater in the upper stem and as time since death increased. Whole tree bark contents were similar for all groups of trees. Chip quality decreased with a longer time since death; more tines and less acceptable chips were found in some dead-tree groups than in live trees.