42 STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY 



it occupied a very unimportant place. Since then, however, this 

 tree has heen used extensively for wood pulp and has come into 

 favor. The annual cut of scrub pine pulpwood in the counties 

 named is about 200,000 cords. It is a tree that comes up abundantly 

 in abandoned fields and occupies land that would otherwise be waste. 

 This illustrates in a striking way the changing conditions of the 

 timber market, showing that some of the species of trees that have 

 held a very important place in the past are coming into prominence 

 now as a result of the increased demand for wood, the decreased 

 supply and new uses for wood. During the past summer a field 

 party was engaged for several months in collecting data relative to 

 the yield and uses of scrub pine; 133 sample plots, averaging about 

 one-third of an acre, were measured and the yield of fully stocked, 

 even aged pine stands for the different age classes was determined. 

 As a result, it will be possible to predict with considerable certainty 

 the yield of pine in the form of cordwood, pulpwood, or other products 

 for given periods, under given soil conditions. This data is now 

 being worked up for publication. 



Red Gum Study. 



Another important timber tree in the State is the red or sweet 

 gum, which is found in swampy sections. This is one of our rapid- 

 growing species and adapted to overflow lands not suited for agricul- 

 tural use. This species, like the scrub pine, was formerly considered 

 of little value, but has come into very general use of late years for 

 cutting into veneer for making berry baskets and vegetable baskets, 

 and also for pulpwood. It is a tree common only in the coastal 

 plain section of the State, but its importance is sufficient to justify 

 a careful study to determine its rate of growth and adaptability to 

 certain soils and the uses for which it is best fitted. During the 

 past summer 65 sample plots were taken in even aged stands under 

 varying conditions. The study will be continued another season in 

 order to complete the work. 



