104 TIMUEB riXES OV THE SOUTUEKN UNITED STATES. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



From the place this species is taking among tlie second growth it tan be safely i)re(licted that 

 it is destined to be the timber tree of the future, as far as the Sotithern States (if the Atlautic 

 forest region nortli of the Longleaf I'ine belt are concerned. It is upon tills tree that iu this 

 section succeeding generations will have to depend for their supi)lies of pine tiinher of superior 

 quality, and in which the nearest substitute is to be found for the sui)plies furnished at present 

 by the Longleaf Pine. That the resources of the latter under the increasing strain to which it 

 is subjected will be completely exhausted before its restoration can be eflt'ected is too evident to 

 admit of any doubt. 



Among the timber trees of the coniferous order found in the Atlantic forests, there is, then, 

 scarcely a si)ecies i)resenting stronger claims to the attention of the forester than the Shortleaf 

 Tine. As far as its demands upon climate and soil are concerned, it is capable of successfully 

 establishing itself over the immense territory reaching from 30° to 38° north latitude and from 

 the Atlantic Slope to the treeless jjlains of the West, embracing within these limits areas of wide 

 extent, with all the conditions required for the best development of this species, and in great 

 measure adapted to nothing better than the growth of timber. Of not less importance than its 

 value as a timber tree are its facilities for natural renewal, resulting from the abundant crops of 

 seed i)ro(luced almost with(jut failure every year and its aggressive behavior toward competing 

 species in the successful struggle for the possession of the soil. 



From a closer obscrvati(m of the young forests of spontaneous growth at diflerent stages, it is 

 apparent that in the establishment and rearing of a forest of Shortleaf Pine, where mother trees 

 exist, nature requires comparatively little assistance from the hanils of the forester, and that the 

 efforts of the latter will be chiefly confined to measures of protection against destruction by 

 fire and against the injuiies caused Ity inroads of live stock during the earlier stages of growth. 

 That by thinning out, practiced after the first to the middle or end of the third decade, the forest 

 growth would be benefited, there can be but little doubt. To what extent, by .such interference, 

 the production of merchantable timber can be promoted and in quantity and (juality improved at 

 the least cost remains a matter of future experiment. In the total absence of facts, based on 

 experiment, no .suggestions can be ofiered on these points other than such as can be deduced from 

 the natural requirements of this species, as already discussed. 



In conclusion, it can Ijc safely asserted that the Shortleaf Pine is destined to take a jiromineiit 

 place iu the forest management of the future througliout the regions favorable to its growth, not 

 only on account of its economic value in the natural forest, but aLso in holding out better pros- 

 l)ects to the forest planter for the ])ro(luction of timber of higher (piality in the shortest time 

 than any tree of the same order in the Southern .Vtlantic loiest regi(»n. That the methoils of a 

 rational forest management will have to be resorted to at no distant time can with certainty be 

 predicted, although the tindier wealth existing at i)resent in the vast territory of its growth may 

 appear enormous. 



Of great importance in the reforestation of large areas, this tree is of no less significance to 

 the farmer who is aware of the advantages resulting from the restoi-ation of the tree-covering on 

 his denuded uplands, either originally unfit for piolitable tillage or thrown out of cultivation after 

 their exhaustion. By the facility of its natural renewal the Shortleaf Pine attbrds within a short time 

 a firm protection to the light soil, preventing it from being cirricd away by wind and rain, providing 

 a .shelter for the crops and for insectivorous birds, a lasting income of increasing supplies of timlier 

 and fuel on lands that yield no other profit whatever, and to the lands abandoned after their 

 exhaustion a chauce for their recuperation while resting under the cover of its shade. 



