1444 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



MEASURES TO BE APPLIED IN EASTERN FORESTS 



The forest types of the East which now suffer extensive devastation 

 are the longleaf-slash pine and the shortleaf -loblolly pine-hardwoods ; 

 those which suffer to some extent are the oak-pine, the white, norway , 

 and jack pine-hardwoods, and the spruce-fir-hardwoods. Progressive 

 deterioration, which ultimately leads to devastation, is taking place 

 over the greater part of the remaining types. Here, as throughout 

 this section, first-class protection against fires, insects, and disease is 

 assumed to be in effect, since without it other measures to prevent 

 devastation would be useless. 



LONGLEAF-SLASH PINE TYPE 



Longleaf pine, and to a lesser extent slash pine, characteristically 

 form pure pine stands in both virgin and second growth. The area of 

 virgin stands is now relatively small. Second growth is overwhelm- 

 ingly even-aged over large areas, although comparatively recent fire 

 protection is gradually beginning to make itself felt in the form of 

 seedlings and saplings under all except dense stands of established 

 growth. In spite of a remarkable fire resistance, longleaf pine is 

 subject to complete killing in slash fires, and to severe losses from fires 

 during the growing season. Slash pine is much less resistant than 

 longleaf pine. Longleaf pine seedlings are destroyed by hogs on 

 areas where the animals concentrate. 



Cutting is generally preceded by turpentining, and in the eastern 

 portions of the type turpentining is at present by far the most 

 important form of utilization. Trees as small as 6 inches diameter 

 breast high are still turpentined in spite of ample experimental evi- 

 dence that the work does not pay. Cutting limits vary greatly. 

 The minimum size of tree cut for saw logs is often 9 inches diameter 

 breast high in virgin timber, and 6 or 8 inches in second growth, 

 although here again repeated studies have demonstrated that such 

 small trees do not return a profit. Logging, except in the com- 

 paratively small acreages of heavy virgin timber currently cut, is 

 by animals. 



The measures necessary to keep this type from devastation, in 

 addition to the thoroughgoing fire protection described in the previous 

 section of this report, are as follows: 



CUTTING 



Economic selection of trees to be cut leaving uncut all those which 

 cannot be utilized at a profit will save many areas from devastation. 

 Where clear cutting is economically justified, and little advance 

 reproduction is present, seed trees must be left. In clear cuttings 

 exceeding about 6 acres in size, or 500 feet in width, seed trees should 

 be left at the rate of 4 to 8 longleaf pines, or 2 to 4 slash pines, per 

 acre. These should be sound, thrifty trees, at least 10 inches diameter 

 breast high with well-developed crowns. If the only available trees 

 are turpentined or otherwise defective, the higher number should be 

 left, because of the likelihood that they will be wind thrown or broken. 

 The seed trees should be well distributed over the area. Where the 

 cutting is not clear, but leaves a nucleus of saplings and younger 

 growth that will develop into a merchantable stand in due time, seed 

 trees are of course unnecessary. 



