POSSIBILITIES OF THE PINE BARRENS. 155 



encroachment of more rapid-growing pines or broad-leaf trees, on 

 soils where such will 



POSSIBILITIES OF THE PINE BARRENS. 



The pine barrens, on account of their impoverished soils, 

 are incapable of sustaining a wood of a large-sized broad-leaf 

 species. The loblolly pine seems incapable of naturally securing 

 a foothold in these sands, as nowhere in the forest does it follow 

 the long-leaf pine as that tree is removed ; and on the limited 

 areas of old fields where it has appeared spontaneously, it seems 

 unable to attain a large size or perfect development, the boles 

 being short and crowded with limbs, the crowns large and spread- 

 ing, the wood in the standing tree, even the sapwood, often evinc- 

 ing at an early age signs of decay. These are, in fact par excel- 

 lence the long-leaf pine lands. No other tree for timber use is 

 capable of attaining even a moderate development on this soil. 

 The least exacting of the larger forest trees of the State, both in 

 regard to soil-moisture and fertility, it is able to secure by means 

 of its deep-seated taproot, which often penetrates the layers of 

 sand to a depth of ten or twelve feet, the mineral elements 

 necessary for its development, and reach on the most barren soils a 

 height of 50 to 70 feet and a diameter of 14 to 16 inches. On the 

 pauperized soils of the barrens lying near the sounds, the pine is 

 unable to become more than a middle-sized tree 50 to 60 feet in 

 height with a diameter of about 16 inches ; on the deep and poor 

 sands of Wayne, the northern part of Bladen, and portions of 

 Sampson counties the conditions of development are similar to 

 or only a little better than those prevailing near the coast, and 

 continue so to the westward through Cumberland, Harnett and 

 Kichmond counties, until in Moore and Montgomery counties 

 the loose sands become confluent with the late drifts derived from 

 the sandstones containing clayey particles and a loamy subsoil, 

 where a better growth can be secured. But on many of the 

 smaller areas of sandy soils, where the taproot of tiie tree is able 

 to penetrate the sand and reach a stiffer subsoil, the tree reaches 



