56 'IIMUKR riNES i)V TIIK SOl'TIIERN UNITED STATES. 



in tlic ;mm>\i'<l tiiblcs, fxliiliitiiin tlic rate oi' gniwtli of tlic trci' dniinj,^ its most active sfajre. 

 With the iiu'ieasinj^ accretion of wood the annual linys become shai|ily deliiied, h'aviny: no (hiubt 

 as to the age of the tree. 



To make sure as to the rchition between (he annual linj^s and the ajfi! of the tree, the aj;e of 

 second jxrowih was ascertained by dose in(iuirii-s directed lo settlers who knew the time that lunl 

 elapsed since this second growth made its appearance in the abandoned fields or in the forest. 

 In every instance it was fonn<l that tlie ninid)er of rini;s accorded closely with the information 

 elicited. 



To ascertain the ditlerence in rate of growth and (juality of wood between trees grown upon 

 ground oTice turned by the plow and those sjiruiig up in the oiiginal forest on the same soil, 

 several trees of nearly the same si/.e were f(dled in what clearly ajipeared to Ite tlu^ remnant of 

 virgin forest, and in a grf)ve grown u]) in a field abandonee! years ago.' It was made evident 

 tliat trees in the original forest reciuired almost double tin- length of time to attain the same 

 dimension. 



A field covered with saplings (juite uniform in growth and known to have been thrown out of 

 cultivation during the years isd,'! and ISdl afforded a good opportunity for these investigations. 

 A nundier of trees, varying in diameter between 10.1 and 1 1 inches, and in height between 4r> and 

 ."(() feet, showed from 30 to 3o rings of growth. The length of the si)ring shoots on the main stem 

 of these trees was found (June S) to be from 21 to 24 inches. 



In another fine grove, covering a field which was known to have been cultivated f<ir the last 

 time during the years 1835 and 1S3(), a number of trees were cut down for measurement. The 

 number of rings was found not to exceed 48. These trees also showed great uniformity in size, 

 measuring near the base 11.1 to 12 inches in diameter and from OS to 72 feet in height. The wood 

 was sajijiN' throughout and useless, excei)t for fuel and for making charcoal. For this ]iurpose 

 the land is rented at $4 to $.5 per acre, lu this grove, ranking as best jjiue-woods land, the soil 

 of which was nearly level, well drained, and with a light, loani.\- subsoil, 110 trees of the above 

 dimensions were counted on 1 acre. 



Among the trees taken from the forest for determining the difference between foicst growth 

 and field trees, one measuring 12 inches in diameter and 7(1 feet in height showed S.'i rings of 

 annual growth, Avith 9.^ inches of heartwood. Two others, 11 and !."> inches in diameter and 70 

 ami 71 feet high, sliowed 'M rings each. The shoots of the year (.lune »S) on the ])rimar\ and 

 lateral axes of these trees were found to be but little over 1 inch in length. 



In a third grove, ui)on poor, sandy, undidating ground, a number of trees below nu'diuui size 

 were found cut down to serve for posts and logs. In 2;>of these trees thediameter varied between 

 7-{ and 8 in(!hes, with a nearly uniform height of <10 to 02 feet, the first lin 1) being IS to 20 feet above 

 the ground. The number of rings varied between IS and 50. Tlit^ forests in th(^ same vicinity were 

 stri]ipedof their more valuable timber a number of yeais before. The largest trees of the original 

 forest growth remaining were from 12 to 15 inches in diameter. Several were brought down for 

 measuicment and foiuul to bi' 73 feet in height by 11 inches in diameter, with 120 rings and inches 

 of heartwood: 7.3 feet in height by 13 inches in diameter, with !U rings and inches of heartwood^ 

 and 80 feet in heiglit by 14 inches in diameter, with 107 rings and 8 inches of heartwood. 



When the tree has reached its second decade it begins to inoducc Howers ami fruit. Having 

 during the course of the following ten to fifteen years reaclu-d a. length of from 40 to 45 feet, with 

 the main stem r'lcar of limbs, the giowth of branches does not ])roceed with the same regularity; 

 cousecpicutly, they are, no longer arranged in regular whorls, but a[ipear irregularly, and thus the 

 symmetry of the tree is lost. 



On tlio rolling pine ii])1.iiiiIn iicur Spring Hill. M<iliik' County. 



