166 FORESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



practiced in the loblolly pine woods when the demand was almost 

 entirely for pieces of timber of exceptionally large dimensions for 

 special uses. By this method of cutting the largest specimens 

 only were removed and the smaller allowed to continue their 

 growth uninterruped. This was before kiln dried loblolly pine 

 lumber became a feature on the lumber market and stocks of all 

 sizes of this pine came into general demand for lumber purposes. 

 Now clear cutting is the rule in lumbering, though much to the 

 detriment of the forest. 



In spite of the naturally abundant reproductive powers of the 

 loblolly pine, much can be done during and subsequent to lum- 

 bering to facilitate regeneration and secure a thick stand of young 

 pines. With clear cuttings, frequent seed-bearing trees should be 

 left -to insure a thorough and uniform seeding of the area at as 

 early a- time as posssible. It is absolutely necessary to protect 

 recently lumbered lands from fires, as in the event of one while 

 the ground is encumbered with the tops of the felled trees, all of 

 the young pines will be destroyed. Cattle do but little damage 

 to young loblolly pines. 



Existing woods of compact young loblolly pines, in which the 

 trees have reached a height of 35 to 40 feet, could probably be 

 thinned by having the suppressed and subordinate trees removed, 

 to the great, benefit of those remaining, affording more light to the 

 crowns and stimulating rapid enlargement of the trunks. Where 

 dense growth is left to natural thinnings, the subordinate groups, 

 the crowns enduring a considerable compression, will interfere 

 for some years with the larger and more vigorous specimens which 

 are ultimately to survive. By securing thick stands, however, 

 during the early stages of development and thinning at the right 

 times, chiefly when the period of most rapid height-growth has 

 passed, the accretion secured within a given time can be consid- 

 erably increased above what.it would be if the wood were left to 

 natural suppression and a prolonged struggle between trees, only 

 a small proportion of which are ultimately to survive. At certain 

 stages of development, however, the thick stands and the struggle 

 between the trees to secure the light is necessary to cause the 

 rapid pushing upward of the crowns and the formation of clean 

 shafts. 



