A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1379 



HARVESTING OF NAVAL STORES 



The harvesting of the resin crop from the pine forests of the South- 

 east stands to gain greatly through the modernization of methods 

 that science can contribute. Naval stores products have held their 

 own in commerce and industry up to this point in spite of the unneces- 

 sary waste and the crude practices ^applied to their production. But 

 it is now widely recognized that if they are to continue longer as 

 profitable industrial commodities, radical changes must be made 

 throughout the processes of production and handling. 



The scientific study that has already been applied has shown the 

 practicability of maintaining the flow of oleoresin by light, narrow 

 chipping at as high a yield as by heavy chipping. The establishment 

 of this fact makes possible longer working and greater returns per 

 tree. Two to three successive workings for periods of 5 to 8 years 

 each now result in less damage to subsequent wood products than 

 resulted from the shorter workings commonly carried on in young 

 stands. To a considerable degree these improved methods have 

 already been adopted in commercial practice. That further modifi- 

 cation might be made by changes in the frequency of chipping also 

 give promise of future important developments. The size of the tree 

 has been found to influence greatly the yield of gum, and the dividing 

 line between profitable ane unprofitable sizes for working has been 

 fairly well established. The vitality of tree growth is known to have 

 influence in the yield of resin, but vigorous-appearing trees which 

 might be expected to give high yields sometimes prove to be low 

 producers, and small trees to be large producers. Thus, there are 

 factors at work affecting the yields that have escaped detection. It 

 is highly important to the intensive management that must hence- 

 forth determine the profits of naval-stores operation to avoid cum- 

 bering the ground with low yielding trees, which reduce the profits 

 from the normal and high yielders. The question of the proper 

 number of trees per acre is being given intensive study, since the 

 spacing of the stand influences crown size and other basic factors 

 responsible for the best yields of both oleoresins and wood. 



Timber products as well as naval stores must be relied upon as the 

 crop from forests of the Southeast, and the proper integration of all 

 products becomes a matter of primary concern. Piling, poles, pulp- 

 wood, staves, and excelsior have been produced from the timber 

 operated for resin. Continued outlet is threatened, particularly in 

 the case of staves, whereas in pulp the outlet promises to increase. 

 The margin, however, is so slight, even with substantial gains in 

 pulpwood, that no outlet can be lost without serious consequences. 

 The system of management which takes into account the varied prod- 

 ucts so as to make each contribute to the maximum net return from 

 the forest has yet to be established. The facts required as a basis 

 of such management are complicated and difficult to obtain, but the 

 importance of getting them as rapidly as possible is obvious. 



PULP AND PAPER 



The production of pulp and paper deservedly ranks as one of the 

 most important uses of forest material, and its importance seems 

 destined to increase. As shown in the section "Timber Require- 

 ments", the total national consumption of paper and boards increased 



