Logging Longleaf Pine. 389 



In addition to these classes, large trees, say above 20 inches, 

 and slim, long-boled, small-crowned trees should come out. It 

 is especially important to remove stunted or slow growing trees. 

 Anyone familiar with the appearance of crowns of trees can learn 

 in a day or two to detect the difference between a thrifty tree 

 and a stunted one. The former will have a large, often pyra- 

 midal, crown, with long dark green needles, while the crown of 

 the stunted tree is small, misshapen, with short needles. 



The presence of these stunted trees means that growth of the 

 stand has been checked, and loss will follow if they are not cut 

 and used. It is usually a better plan to cut out the stunted trees 

 in a group and leave the thrifty ones even if the latter are larger, 

 since the thrifty trees already have a large root system and will 

 make splendid growth if left. The stunted trees will require 

 several years' time to recover and will probably get into good 

 shape to grow just about the time the second cutting comes 

 around. 



These principles apply to all owners. But there will be a dif- 

 ference in marking, depending on whether the owner is willing 

 to try to obtain a crop of seedlings. Longleaf pine seed is heavy 

 and can not be counted on to blow much farther than the height 

 of the trees. If a crop of seedlings is desired, it may be necessary 

 to leave a few trees of larger diameter than would otherwise be 

 left, and, in some cases, defective trees if no others are available, 

 so that no blanks are left larger than about half an acre. Two 

 large trees to the acre, or four or five smaller ones, will produce 

 plenty of seed. Where young timber already is in the sapling 

 stage, no seed trees are needed and in many cases, where dense 

 thickets of blackjack would prevent reproduction, it would be 

 foolish to leave them. 



The best way to secure the proper cutting and reservation of 

 the right trees is to blaze every tree that is to come out. An ex- 

 perienced man can mark carefully about thirty acres a day in 

 stands running 6,000 to 10,000 feet per acre, which, even at $5 

 a day, would make the cost of marking about 2.\ cents a thou- 

 sand feet. 



Method of Marking. 



In order to demonstrate the possibilities of this method of 

 marking, about 400 acres were marked for cutting, in plots ten 

 25 



