524 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



with our present information to define the climatic and soil conditions 

 in the various southern hardwood types with exactness. Nevertheless, 

 it is perfectly clear from even a superficial examination that the hard- 

 wood coves possess more available soil moisture than either the slopes 

 or the ridges. This is almost entirely due to drainage conditions and 

 soil composition. The coves, being at the bottom of the slopes, are 

 naturally better watered and the soil is deeper. At the other extreme 

 the ridges are over-drained and their soils are shallow. The slope 

 type occupies an intermediate position between the two. In accordance 

 with these dififerences in run-ofif, the virgin stands in the coves average 

 15,000 board feet to the acre, while the ridges seldom exceed 2,000 

 board feet and the slopes occupy an immediate position with an 

 average stand of about 8,000 board feet. 



Unfortunately growth figures for the three types are not avail- 

 able for the reason that data have not been collected for them sepa- 

 rately ; the growth figures have been secured by species without any 

 attention being paid to the conditions under which these species are 

 growing. However, it seems safe to say that the cove type cannot be 

 expected to yield more than 10,000 cubic feet per acre in 100 years. 

 Under the same conditions, the slope type will give approximately 

 5,000 cubic feet and the ridge not more than 1,000 cubic feet. Satis- 

 factory density figures are almost wholly lacking, but it is estimated 

 that yellow poplar coves will not contain more than 125 trees in a 

 rotation of 100 years. Outside of the cove type there are no diameter 

 and height figures which can be relied upon. In this type yellow poplar 

 will attain a diameter of 25 inches and a total height of 125 feet, 

 chestnut 20 inches and 93 feet, respectively, and hemlock 21 inches 

 and 98 feet. 



Southern Pine Type 



The southern pine type in which longleaf pine is the dominant 

 species is characterized by a growing season of nine to eleven months. 

 The total annual precipitation of approximately 55 inches. Rapid 

 run-off and rapid evaporation are the rule. The run-off is rapid not 

 on account of the slope but by reason of the open sandy soil upon 

 which the type grows. The reason for rapid evaporation is the long 

 growing season. On the southern limit of the type, the climate is 

 sub-tropical in character so that the evaporation will aproach that of 

 the tropics, where 64 inches are annually evaporated from water 

 surfaces. 



