Although the early stages of old-field succession have been described in various regions of the temperate zone, the early stages of forest succession are not well understood (Oosting, 1956; Hanson and Churchill, 1961). Forest succession is here defined to be succession among the canopy, sub-canopy, and small tree species. To examine the early stages of forest succession, the vegetation of Neotoma Valley was studied. Neotoma Valley, located just southeast of Lancaster, Ohio, on the Fairfield-Hocking County line approximately one-half mile southwest of the Hocking River at Clear Creek in the Hocking Hills, has been the site of considerable research (Gilbert, 1964) and is a good example of an area that was once cleared or partially cleared land, but which has returned to a forested condition. This area is typical of most of the entire Hocking Hills region (Fig. 1).