JOURNAL 



OF THE 



Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 



THE LONG LEAF PINE AND ITS 

 STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE. 



BY W. \V. ASHE. 



As a country increases in population the relative area 

 of its woodland and forests, from which both timber and 

 a larg-e part of its fuel must be drawn, decreases in like 

 or even g-reater proportion. The care and propao-ation 

 of timber trees oi masse becomes a feature of eco- 

 nomic administration; and in all cases the inauo'uration 

 of the polic}^ of forest cultivation has emanated from 

 the g-overnment. The cause of this dependence on the 

 g-overnment for the initiation is patent. Although indi- 

 viduals may see, as forest materials become scarcer, 

 that some definite plan, in regard to forest manage- 

 ment, should be followed, they are, as a body, unable 

 to put on foot a general line of action which will in any 

 measure tend to increase the supply. 



This inaction of individuals is due to two causes: (1) 

 A disregard for the future, since the benefit of any re- 

 form, or at least the realization of increased income 

 from any reform which ma}^ be made in the manage- 

 ment of forests will be derived only after many years; 

 broadl}^ speaking will be of advantag^e only after the 



