DISTRIBUTION OF LOBLOLLY PINE. 117 



ingly large area of exhausted lauds abandoned in that section by the cultivators during a long 

 period of time has been taken entire possession of by this tree. 



In. North Carolina the Loblolly is the predominating tree throughout the eastern coast plain arid 

 in the lower part of the State, where it forms extensive forests, more or less frequently interspersed 

 with Longleaf Pine. South of Cape Fear River, however, the latter prevails almost exclusively. 

 In the extensive region watered by numerous streams flowing into Albemarle and Pamlico 

 sounds, in the rich, moist soil of the wide swamps above tide water, the Loblolly reaches its best 

 development, attaining dimensions which place this tree among the timber trees of first order. 

 The primeval forests of this pine have, however, almost completely disappeared in this region, 

 and with them the gigantic trees of this species known in the market as Rosemary Pine, once so 

 highly prized and eagerly sought in shipbuilding. Farther south, in the low pine barrens, this 

 tree is largely superseded by the Longleaf Pine, and is principally confined to the borders of the 

 swamps and to the bottoms along the water courses. Throughout the lower part of the coast pine 

 belt, after the removal of the original timber growth, the progeny of the Loblolly Pine immediately 

 takes possession of every opening, and particularly of the fields thrown out of cultivation. 



'' The principal kiuds of Loblolly recognized by the lumbermen under distinct names are: 



" 1. Rosemary Pine, the best kind from the trees of best development, of a fine grain but heavy, 

 hard, durable, with but a small proportion of sapwood. At present scarcely known by name at 

 the mills in the section where half a century ago it abounded. 



" 2. Swamp or Slash Pine, of a coarser grain, with about one-half of the diameter of the tree in 

 sapwood. This kind comprises most of the timber of original growth, and the oldest and best 

 matured second growth. 



"3. Oldfield Pine, by the rapidity of its growth, is very coarse-grained and for the greater part 

 sap, scarcely one-fourth of the diameter being heart. At present the principal source of the timber 

 supplies in the coast region." 1 



At the sawmills at Goldsboro, close to the border of the Longleaf Pine region, over 50 per cent 

 of the lumber sawn is Loblolly Pine. On a trip through the forests between the Neuse and Trent 

 rivers it was observed that the Loblolly Pine forms over two-thirds of the tree covering, almost 

 entirely of second growth, of dimensions to furnish sawlogs of from 10 to 18 inches mean diameter 

 by a length of from 15 to 30 feet. The sandy swells and knolls rising above the flats originally 

 covered with the Longleaf Pine are not infrequently occupied by a young growth of Loblolly. The 

 mills at Newbern and vicinity are almost solely depending for their lumber supplies upon these 

 forests of second growth. The same conditions are prevailing in Duplin and in Pender County, 

 by the reports of operators. Mr. C. C. Williams, at Teacheys, in Duplin County, states that 66 

 per cent of the timber sawn is Loblolly Pine, mostly of second growth, furnishing timber for 

 creosoting and lumber for building purposes. 



Mr. Bauman, at Burgaw, reports that the Oldfield Pine (Loblolly of second growth) is coming 

 more and more into use every year, and the demand for this kind of lumber is greatly increasing. 

 In a number of the Newbern journals of 1891 it is stated that over 60,000,000 feet of lumber, 

 board measure, were produced in 1801 by the mills of that place and the vicinity. In the bulletin 

 quoted the output of the nine mills in operation during 1893 is given at 38,000,000 feet, board meas- 

 ure. The timber delivered at the mills sells for about $5 per 1,000 feet, and the price of rough 

 lumber averages $12. 



In the latest report on the forests of North Carolina the acreage of the Loblolly Pine, including 

 the land covered with the second growth, and where the Loblolly Pine is taking the place of the 

 Longleaf Pine, is stated as exceeding 4,000,000 acres. The standing merchantable timber can be 

 said to cover 1,150,000 acres. Allowing 4,000 feet, board measure, to the acre, this will make 

 4,600,000,000 feet of standing Loblolly Pine in 1893. The total cut of Loblolly Pine for the same 

 year has been reported at 200,000,000 feet, board measure. 2 



In South Carolina and Georgia the Loblolly Pine is confined all over the coast pine belt to the 

 more or less swampy borders of the pine barrens scattered among the broad-leaf evergreens and 



I The Forests, Forest Lands, and Forest Products of Eastern North Carolina. W. W. Ashe, p. 41, Bull. 5, N. C. 

 Geol. Survey. 



II W. W. Aohe, Bulletin No. 5, North Carolina (Jeol. Survey, Raleigh, 1894, p. 41. 



