176 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



which, in the opinion of the committee, was essential for determining 

 the forest possibilities of the cut-over land in the South, was the col- 

 lection of data for and the construction of yield tables. This raisetl 

 the whole question which has been discussed for so many years among 

 foresters as to whether we ought to have empirical yield tables or what 

 in forest mensuration are called "normal" yield tables. After long 

 discussions the committee finally decided that yield tables based on 

 sample plots picked at random, plots of different stocking, burned over, 

 and ravaged by hogs, would not give any definite standard by which 

 to measure the possibilities of the cut-over land. On the other hand 

 purely normal yield tables would be too far ahead of the needs of 

 the time. 



As the matter stands now, the selection of sample plots will be con- 

 fined to present stands but well-stocked and which have escaped fires 

 and do not suffer from the grazing of hogs. These are the yields 

 which may be reasonably expected in the South with some form of 

 protection against fire and hogs — a goal which it is hoped will be con- 

 summated within the near future. This is the first attempt in this 

 country, as far as I know, to secure yield tables for a large region. 

 The sample plots so far measured by the Forest Services, States, and 

 forest schools, will be utilized as far as they can fit in in the general 

 scheme. There are available in all 103 sample plots for longleaf pine, 

 524 for loblolly, and 140 for shortleaf. A special form for recording 

 the field measurements and instructions for the selection of the plots 

 were prepared by the committee and generally approved. Three site 

 classed, based on height, have been adopted. Soil samples from each 

 plot will be secured and analyzed and a correlation made between the 

 site and the soil condition. 



A computer will be secured and probably attached to the computing 

 force of the Forest Service, but will give her entire time to working 

 up the field data from the southern pine region. 



The work is now fairly well under way and I hope by this time 

 that two men are in the field in Texas taking measurements on sam- 

 ple plots. 



Parallel with this field work for collecting data for normal yield 

 tables observations will be carried on and all the available knowledge 

 collated as to the silvicultural treatment of the southern pine forests. 

 By the end of the next calendar year the committee hopes to have a 

 preliminary report ready. 



