RATE OF GROWTH. 



43 



Along the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, the 

 rate of growth is somewhat slower than on the plateau. 



Rate of diameter growth of white jnne by decades. 



Many single trees measured in the valleys of Watauga and New rivers show 

 a diameter growth which is about the same as that of the trees on Linville River. 

 In a few cases individual trees much exceeded this average. The trees measured 

 are all forest- grown specimens with well-developed stems and normal in height. 



Summary of measurements of growth of white pine. 



Locality. 



Higgins Creek . . . 

 Linville River . . . 

 Table Rock Creek 



Age of 

 group. 



117 



162 



80 



Diameter on 

 stump, in- 

 side of bark. 



Inches. 

 20.8 

 29.6 

 19.6 



Height. 



Feet. 

 84 

 115 

 81 



Length of 

 merchant- 

 able timber. 



Feet. 



46 

 73 

 45 



Merchant- 

 able timber. 



Feet B. M. 

 467 

 920 

 328 



Average in- 

 crease m di- 

 ameter of 

 stump for 

 each decade. 



Inches. 

 1.7 

 1.8 

 2.4 



Increase in 



diameter of 



wood, last 



ten years. 



Inches. 



1.1 



.8 



2.0 



In the Southern Appalachians white pine, under average conditions, becomes 

 a merchantable tree 14 inches in diameter on the stump, outside of bark, when 30 

 years old; on poor soil it becomes merchantable when about 45 years old; on good 

 soil and at a low elevation even as early as the 25th year. It must be understood 

 that this is not true of all trees, but of a considerable proportion. Two full-stocked 

 areas of young white pine were measured, which show the possibilities of timber 

 production in this region. 



