TURPENTINE ORCHARDING EFFECT ON LONGLEAF 



TIMBER 



Bv George Droeet 

 forester, Kaiil Lnvihcr Co., Tuscaloosa, Ala. 



The large timber-holders of the South associate the naval store in- 

 dustry in their minds with the destruction of the virgin longleaf pine 

 forest that once extended from Virginia to Texas. It is unfortunate, 

 indeed, that the turpentine operator should have earned for himself 

 such a reputation. The present-day operators have inherited the sins 

 of their fathers, and are looked upon with distrust by the holders of 

 the remaining virgin longleaf pine. This attitude is crippling a worthy 

 industry. 



The timberland owner, particularly if he is a sawmill operator, can 

 realize a handsome income from his timber in the sale of turpentine 

 privileges, and if he uses proper management can do so without en- 

 dngering his output of lumber. The Kaul Lumber Company have been 

 cutting their longleaf pine timber for some years without previous 

 turpentining. They had made an unsuccessful attempt at turpentining 

 in the past and had decided that it was poor business to mix the two 

 industries. Under this policy the applications of timberless turpentine 

 operators were turned down as fast as received, until finally there came 

 a certain persistent operator who persuaded the company to allow him 

 to work the timber for turpentine under the following plan : At the 

 beginning of each season the operator would cup ten crops of virgin 

 timber, each crop to be worked for two seasons only. The areas to be 

 turpentined are those in which logging would follow immediately after 

 the second season of turpentining. 



The following paragraphs (A to D) show the effect of turpentining 

 under different conditions. The territory covered by Paragraph A was 

 selected a year in advance of the logging and each healthy tree 12 inches 

 and up tapped. One face only was allowed on trees 12 inches to 16 

 inches in diameter, inclusive. On trees 17 inches and up two cups were 

 placed, and no more than two cups were allowed on any tree. Trees 

 showing large scars on the butt received only one face. Cupping was 

 done with the idea of protecting the timber above all. The cupping 

 was started in the winter of 1916. Paragraph A shows the result of 

 an examination of the areas in December, 1916. the end of the first 

 season. 



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