Possibilities of a Second Cut 9 



actually obtained on old-field stands. In other words, these are 

 in no sense maximum yields, but may be obtained under almost any 

 circumstances and without expensive measures. 



These yields, shown in Table 2, may be increased from 50 to 

 100 per cent under proper management. 



MANAGEMENT OF THE TRACT 



The company desires to maintain as long as possible the present 

 output. The estimate of merchantable timber indicates a cut of 

 approximately eighteen years. The company believes that growth 

 and the increase on old-field stands will extend the cut two years. 

 The depreciation charge and investment in the plant have, there- 

 fore, only twenty years to run. If it can be shown that, by a 

 different procedure, growth may be more fully utilized and the cut 

 extended even two or three years, this policy would have much 

 to recommend it from a financial standpoint. 



AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES 



The land will not be kept permanently in forest by the present 

 company and it is planned ultimately to dispose of it as farm 

 lands. Old settlers do not consider the pine ridges suitable for 

 continuous cropping and favor the lower lands, not overflowed, 

 along small streams. These soils have better depth, more loamy 

 texture and produce fair crops of corn, cotton or cane, while the 

 pine ridges are likely to dry out and result in crop failures. With 

 proper fertilization, improved methods of cultivation, better mar- 

 kets and the advent of truck crops, small fruits and orchards, 

 much of this land will prove valuable for agricultural use. 



The company is probably pursuing the proper policy in plan- 

 ning to dispose of the entire tract at some future time. But this 

 by no means proves that it is unwise to encourage a crop of seed- 

 ling pine on cut-over lands. In twenty years such seedlings will 

 be five inches in diameter and with increasing scarcity of pine, 

 and the small percentage of lands elsewhere that are coming up 

 in young forest, this small timber will give the land a prospective 

 value that may equal or exceed its value for agriculture and would 

 aid greatly in its sale. By that time purchasers will be keenly 

 alive to the value of young timber on land, even if desired for agri- 

 culture. Such portions of the farm as are not under cultivation 

 should be in growing forest. 



