54 LOBLOLLY OE NORTH CAROLINA PINE. 



of the tree as "scrape." This unusually rapid crystallization of the 

 mass leads to the consequent rapid evaporation of its content of spirits 

 of turpentine. Analysis of the perfectly fresh oleoresin shows a normal 

 amount of spirits 'of turpentine, but the collected gum, after standing 

 several weeks in the receptacles, as in ordinary practice, shows a much 

 lower per cent of volatile oil. For this reason it seems quite probable 

 that if this pine is ever to be utilized on any large scale as a source of 

 crude turpentine the usual methods employed in gathering must be 

 materially modified. 



An analysis of the crude turpentine from the first four weeks of chip- 

 ping in July showed 17.58 per cent of spirits of turpentine, the collec- 

 tion at the end of four more weeks of chipping showed only 14.11 per 

 cent. The spirits of turpentine thus obtained was found to have proper- 

 ties identical with those of commercial spirits of turpentine. The oleo- 

 resin is characterized by an unusually small amount, 4.2 per cent, of 

 unsaponifiable matter. The rosin left after distillation of the spirits of 

 turpentine resembles closely commercial rosin and has an acid number 

 of 172. 



GROWTH. 



The growth of loblolly varies considerably with the character of soil. 

 In accordance with the rapidity of growth there may be recognized three 

 quality classes which are determined by the character of the soil or site. 

 The maximum* figures of growth and yield are those for better condi- 

 tions than Quality Site I, and the minimum for poorer conditions than 

 Quality Site III. Both the maximum and minimum figures, however, 

 are averages of stands both better and poorer than the figures indicate. 

 The figures of growth which are given for any quality site are averages 

 which embrace stands having a considerable range both above and below 

 these figures, the limit of range being approximately one-half the in- 

 terval between a given Quality class and those next to it.t 



Quality Class I. This class includes stands of loblolly pine that 

 make rapid growth and produce very heavy yields per acre. These are 

 found on loams, sandy loams, and clay loams (particularly those desig- 



*Details of several oi the best stands are given below: 



One-fourth acre had a stand 120 years old the yield of which was at the rate of 12,760 cubic feet ot 

 stem wood without bark, and 71,600 board feet mill cut ^ inch kerf. The total number of trees per 

 acre was at the rat? of 216; basal area including bark, 284 square feet; average diameter of the trees 

 15.5 inch; and average height of dominant trees 115 feet. (Lenoir County.) 



Another excellent stand which had an ave;age age of not more than 60 years, had a cubic volume of 

 9,930 feet of stem wood without bark per acre, 54,200 board feet mill cut, ^ inch kerf; basal area out- 

 side of bark of 233 square feet; and contained 180 trees 6 inches and over, which had an average 

 diameter of 16.6 inches. The dominant trees were 120 feet high. (Washington County.) 



The best young stand, 29 years old, was in an old field stand on a moist sits in Pitt County. The 

 total cubic volume per acre was 7,480 feet of stem wood without bark; the board measure volume 7 

 inch kerf, 37,277 feet; and basal area outside of the bark 249 square feet. There were 320 trees per acre 

 having an average diameter of 11.9 inches. The average height of dominant trees was nearly 80 feet. 



tThe figures which are given for number of trees per acre, height of stand of dominant trees, vol- 

 ume in board feet or cubic feet, and basal area per acre for stands on different quality sites at differ- 

 ent ages, are averages which would embrace stands having a considerable range both above and be- 



