20 WORKING PLAN FOR FOREST LANDS NEAR PINE BLUFF, ARK. 



The object in .such a forest should be to obtain a constantly increas- 

 ing stand of pine and a decreasing stand of hardwoods, as the pine is 

 the most valuable species which this locality can produce. An increase 

 in the stand of pine can be brought about in two ways— by the removal 

 of a large part of the hardwoods and by the exclusion of forest fires. 

 The quality of the young growth, and consequently of the mature 

 forest, will depend largely upon the presence or absence of tires. 

 Even more effective would be the removal of the hardwoods. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, the quality of the stand and the condition of the 

 market will not permit of this being done at present except at a finan- 

 cial loss, nor is there much reason to suppose that conditions will 

 change to any great extent in the immediate future. Every chance, 

 however, should be taken to cut and remove all hardwoods which show 

 a possibility of affording even a very slight profit. It should be borne 

 in mind that every oak or other hardwood cut tends to increase the 

 number of pine trees in the future stand. 



As will be seen later on. Loblolly grows much more rapidly than 

 Shortleaf, reaching a diameter of 12 inches in forty -four years, whereas 

 the Shortleaf requires over sixty years. Although the "Heart" Pine, 

 or Shortleaf, commands a slightly higher price than the " Bull" Pine, 

 or Loblolly, the difference is only just about enough to pay for sorting- 

 it out. The Loblollv is therefore by far the more valuable tree of the 

 two. and should be favored in every possible way. The more there is 

 of it in the reproduction the better will it be for the future forest, 

 because the crop will become merchantable in a much shorter time, 

 and consequently the returns will be higher. 



Unfortunately, the number of Loblolly seed trees is comparatively 

 small on the pine ridges, and an increase in the percentage of Loblolly 

 can be obtained only by letting as m:my as possible of these trees 

 stand. In practice it will be possible to spare a tree above merchant- 

 able diameter here and there, and this should by all means be done, 

 for every Loblolly left standing will very appreciably help along the 

 representation of this species in the new growth. The number of 

 Shortleaf Pine below 12 inches in diameter left after the cutting will 

 be nearly sufficient to produce all the seed necessary for a reproduc- 

 tion of this species, but in some localities it will be advisable also to 

 save a few above this 12-inch limit. 



To increase the pine stand by protection against fire is entirely 

 practicable, and will produce valuable results. It has been shown 

 that, in the young growth, hardwoods have a decided advantage over 

 pine where the ground is swept by repeated fires, and it is beyond 

 doubt that if fire be kept out the percentage of pine in the young 

 growth will be largely increased. 



During the first five or six years after lumbering, if fire is kept out, 

 the reproduction will usually appear to be composed almost entirely 



