284 



Yearbook^ of Agriculture 1949 



have adopted even more progressive 

 measures than are required in the pro- 

 gram and are chipping only a part of 

 the operable stand, leaving some trees 

 to grow to an even larger, more profit- 

 able size. Nonrestocking stands are now 

 being planted. 



There is a growing recognition of the 

 interdependence of one industry on an- 

 other. Certain pulp companies sell trees 

 of sawlog size to the lumber industry. 

 The lumber industry and the naval 

 stores industry sell thinning and tops 

 to the pulp industry, and the naval 

 stores industry has an opportunity to 

 turpentine a portion of the trees used 

 by both the sawmills and pulp mills 

 prior to harvest. 



NONFOREST-INDUSTRY OWNERS hold 



about 40 percent of the forest land in 

 large holdings ; they include investment 

 holdings, mining companies, railroads, 

 oil companies, game clubs, and indi- 

 viduals. Timber growing is a secondary 

 interest for most of them. Ownership 

 there is more likely to change than 

 where the land is held by forest in- 

 dustries. As a result, policies affecting 

 the timber resource vary greatly and, 

 on the whole, the timber resource is 

 less well protected and managed. 



Even in this group there is progress 

 in forest management. The increasing 

 value of stumpage has brought added 

 returns and established higher values 

 for land. The Tennessee Goal & Iron 

 Co., recognizing an increased value for 

 the mine props and other products used 

 in its mining operations, has had its 

 land under protection and manage- 

 ment for a number of years. The At- 

 lantic Coast Line Railroad recently 

 placed 100,000 acres of land in south 

 Florida under protection and good 

 management. Game clubs have found 

 that, through a reasonable compro- 

 mise, timber can be grown and har- 

 vested on lands devoted primarily to 

 game. Investment companies have fre- 

 quently found that the timber, long 

 overlooked, has managed to produce 

 a crop of real value, one that will re- 

 quire consideration in the future policy 



of management. Several investment 

 companies have made agreements pro- 

 viding for orderly cutting. 



THE OUTLOOK for private forestry 

 on large ownerships in the South is 

 bright. Markets for forest products are 

 strong and bid fair to continue so for 

 some years. The South is entering a 

 period of industrial expansion and 

 needs much lumber for construction. 

 The pulp industry, which already pro- 

 duces half the Nation's pulp from 

 southern trees, is still expanding. 

 Makers of furniture also are moving 

 into the South. Not only must the 

 South supply its own needs, it must 

 continue to supply forest products for 

 other users. 



The South offers good prospects for 

 timber growing as a business. A warm 

 climate, long growing season, and 

 ample rainfall assure excellent growth 

 where soil and drainage are good. The 

 species grown mostly are softwoods, 

 which make up 90 percent of the wood 

 in commerce. Logging is a relatively 

 simple engineering operation and costs 

 are low. The South has a good trans- 

 portation system and the timber is 

 readily accessible to world markets. 



SOME PROBLEMS must be faced. The 

 first is fire, but we think the day of fire 

 control throughout the South will not 

 long be delayed. State legislatures are 

 increasing the appropriations for the 

 work. Three of 1 2 Southern States have 

 authorized State-wide fire control. 



Another problem is regeneration of 

 stands. Regeneration through natural 

 seeding is generally well assured if 

 ample seed trees of the right species 

 are left, but over much of the loblolly- 

 shortleaf-hardwood type, less desirable 

 hardwoods often claim the soil after 

 cutting, and tend to exclude the higher- 

 yielding pines. That is especially true 

 in the Piedmont area. Killing through 

 girdling is a practical answer for a part 

 of the region, but in some areas, the 

 best answer has not yet been found. 

 Meanwhile, good hardwoods make a 

 desirable crop. 



