A description of Virginia pine diameter distributions

Although the research reported here has not satisfied its primary objective of a mathematical expression of diameter distributions in natural stands of Virginia pine, several constructive conclusions and recommendations are possible. All of them are offered with the perspective that research in the interest of advancing growth and yield techniques in forestry is needed, that the study has been exploratory to begin with, and that the contributions presented here, however conclusive or trivial, are the beginnings of a foundation for further research work.

Certain deficiencies in the study are apparent, if not obvious. The major deficiency in the statement of the problem and its conclusion is the lack of a rigorous criterion, or criteria, for judging the success of a fitted distribution. Chi-square was used in this project to test the success of the model, but as the work progressed it became increasingly clear that chi-square was not the best criterion for the purpose of this work.

It is the utilitarian purpose of the model that more aptly determines its success, for it is the ability to describe with sufficient precision the attributes of the forest stand that justly determines whether or not the model is useful. Therefore, Validation of the model should be connected with the forester's interest in volume, value, quality, cost estimation, return, profit and any other attributes useful in management of timber.