SYLVICULTURAL TREATMENT OF THE LOBLOLLY PINE. 167 



In many places where small but vigorous-growing broad-leaf 

 species have succeeded after lumbering in securing possession of 

 loblolly pine lands, it will be found necessary to break their cover 

 in order to permit the pine, unable to endure a heavy shade, to 

 obtain a foothold. On some areas not a sufficient number of seed- 

 bearing pines were left to thickly seed the area even in several 

 years, during which time the broad-leaf trees thicken up to such 

 an extent as to exclude the pine altogether. Where the pines do 

 come up in such situation they make rapid height-growth and 

 soon overtop the broad-leaf trees. 



Such conditions as this are only encountered on the better class 

 of soils. In such places either enough pines must be left to insure 

 thick and immediate seeding, or the broad-leaf trees must be 

 removed'or thinned simultaneously with, or just after, the cutting 

 of the pines. A portion of the underwood, the post oak and dog- 

 wood can be removed without any extra cost, the former being in 

 demand for railway ties and the latter for shuttle blocks, etc. In 

 many places where the underwood is not salable, its thinning or 

 removal in part will be a matter of necessity in order to secure suc- 

 cessful reproduction of the pine. 



An inspection of loblolly pine lands which were closely lum- 

 bered 6 to 12 years ago fully shows that regeneration is imperfect 

 and decidedly irregular, many places of considerable extent being 

 entirely without a young growth of pine. 



As is the case with the other pines, the loblolly can be repro- 

 duced only by means of seed. It is adapted for pure growth in a 

 high forest with a rotation of 50 to 120 years, according to the 

 dimensions of the timber desired, and the quality of the soils; or 

 it can be grown on the best grades of moist or damp loams, in 

 mixed woods with the large broad-leaf species, under a more 

 lengthy rotation for the production of large-sized timbers. 



The trees, especially when young, endure some shade, and 

 during the early stages of development the crowns are capable of 

 withstanding considerable compression, but if overshaded for a 

 long time are unable, when light is afforded them, to regain their 

 vigor. Its easy reproduction by means of the light seed renders it 

 especially adapted to clear cuttings, when regeneration can be 

 secured from adjoining woods. That is, it is adapted to the group 



