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



Here is a very pretty example of how interest affects the tire ques- 

 tion. In the bottom lands the people are directly interested in pro- 

 tecting- the grazing, and consequently the sentiment is strong against 

 allowing tires to run in them. On the other hand, they have no par- 

 ticle of interest in future timber supplies or understanding of the 

 damage which tire causes to the forest. As a consequence, there is 

 absolutely no sentiment against tire in pine lands. 



SILVICULTURAL, NOTES. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SPECIES. a 



Shortleaf Pine {Pinus echinat a Mill. ). 



Situation. — The Shortleaf Pine occurs most extensively on the rel- 

 atively higher, very gently rolling pine ridge land. On the flats of 

 the lower levels it generally gives way to the Loblolly. It reaches its 

 best development on the side slopes rather than on the flat tops or in 

 the bottoms, probably on account of the better drainage. 



Soil. — A fairly light, dry sandy loam is the soil upon which this 

 species grows to best advantage. On the low levels and in the slight 

 depressions where the soil is moist, or even fresh, it can not compete 

 with the Loblolly. Sometimes a little dip with a difference in level of 

 only a few feet will bring about a change of species. The Shortleaf 

 Pine is not exacting in regard to the mineral composition of the soil, 

 and can flourish upon comparatively poor lands. Its chief requirement 

 is that the soil be deep, porous, and well drained. 



Tolerance and reproduction. —Direct sunlight with no shade what- 

 ever is the condition of light best suited to this species throughout its 

 whole life. During extreme youth, however, it is capable of living 

 under an open or very broken canopy of hardwood foliage. 



Shortleaf Pine begins to produce seed when 25 or 30 years old, and 

 occasional cone-bearing specimens but 15 or 20 years of age were met 

 with. After the thirtieth year, at any rate, an abundant supply of 

 seed is produced every two or three years, and under favorable condi- 

 tions the reproduction of this species is marvelous. 



Upon old, abandoned fields surrounded by or situated near to seed- 

 bearing pines ideal conditions are met with. Such localities furnish 

 the two essentials for excellent reproduction — an abundance of light 

 and protection against tire. Seeds blow in from the neighboring trees, 

 and at first a scattering growth of seedlings appears. This gradually 

 becomes more closed and regular, until after eight or ten years a very 

 dense thicket is found, which rapidly develops into a young pole 



"These silvicultural descriptions apply simply to the particular locality for which 

 the working plan was made, and are not to be regarded as holding good for any 

 species over its whole range of distribution. 



