i 3 6 



THE FORESTER. 



June, 



6. That the amount of reforestation by 

 seedlings has been so inconsiderable as to 

 constitute no important factor in estimat- 

 ing future timber supply. 



7. That in connection with 6 and prob- 

 ably the cause of condition therein de- 

 scribed, the logged-over lands, in common 

 with virgin forests, have been swept by 

 fires annually or at such frequent periods 

 as to destroy practically all seedlings. 

 (Fig. 6.) 



S. That while some thousands of acres 

 of logged-over lands have been cleared up 

 for farming, many thousands of acres of 

 unimproved lands are offered for sale at a 



a conservative forest policy for lands still 

 uncut. 



The very practical question now arises 

 as to whether, if given an opportunity, 

 this Longleaf Pine land will reforest itself. 

 The fact previously pointed out that after 

 twenty-five years of lumbering the amount 

 of growth being added from seedlings is 

 inconsiderable, would seem to suggest a 

 negative answer. This coincides with the 

 view commonly held by lumbermen. But 

 my observations upon this point suggest 

 a different conclusion. The seeds of Long- 

 leaf Pine are ordinarily produced in great 

 abundance and become well scattered. 



FIG. 6. PINE UND ADJACENT TO THAT SHOWN IN FIG. 5. SHOWS THE PATH 



OF A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE WHICH FOEEOWED LOGGING AND 



RUINED PROSPECTS FOR SECOND CUTTING. 



low figure, including state lands formerly They germinate readily; thrusting forth 



leased for the timber on them. 



These conditions furnish part of the 

 facts upon which to estimate the possibili- 

 ties of natural reforestation upon such 

 lands and the practicableness of adopting 



the radicle even before they leave the burr. 

 In the fall, thousands of seeds are found 

 far enough along in germination to have 

 secured their attachment to the soil. On 

 places where the annual burning off of 



