REFORESTING CUT-OVER PINELANDS 



IN replying to an inquiry from S. "If you have any considerable acre- 

 G. Stoney, president of the Agri- age still uncut I suggest that you con- 

 cultural Society of South Caro- sider the practicability of adopting 

 lina, regarding the reforestation of cut- measures of this character. Unfortu- 

 over pine lands in that State, Assistant nately the Forest Service is no longer 

 Forester W. R. Greeley of the Forest able, on account of the demands of its 

 Service has expressed the following other work, to make examinations of 

 opinion: extensive private holdings and give the 



"Generally speaking, after the mer- owners specific advice on their manage- 



chantable timber has been removed ment. I enclose, however, a list of con- 



from lands within the coastal pine belt suiting foresters who are prepared to 



of South Carolina and adjacent States, do just such work and to give the owner 



the only practicable measure to secure or operator specific recommendations 



their reforestation is to protect the cut- on how his land should be managed 



over areas from fire. Under ordinary with reference both to practical lum- 



conditions such lands will restock them- bering operations and insuring a second 



selves with a growth of pine if fires growth of timber. 



can be kept out. More than this is "For the lands which you have 



ordinarily not practicable for the owner, previously cut over, however, I have 



"Good forestry should begin before just one suggestion, namely, that fires 

 such areas are cut. From investiga- be rigidly excluded. The custom prev- 

 tions made by the Forest Service on a alent in many parts of the South of 

 number of tracts in the southern piner- burning over pine lands annually to se- 

 ies it appears practicable to adopt more cure a heavier growth of forage is us- 

 conservative methods of cutting than ually fatal to any forest reproduction, 

 are commonly practiced. The aim of Such fires do not kill the larger trees 

 this should be to restrict the trees re- and often may not seriously injure 

 moved to those which are mature, leav- saplings 15 inches in diameter or up- 

 ing on the ground the younger, thriftier wards. They inevitably, however, pre- 

 trees which are still making a fair rate vent the starting of seedlings and hence 

 of growth. Ordinarily this would mean keep the land from producing nearly as 

 probably the leaving of a quarter or a dense a growth of timber as it naturally 

 third of the merchantable stand per would if fires can be eliminated, 

 acre which is usually removed. The "Aside from protection from fire, the 

 trees so left would of course be those only possible step would be reforesta- 

 of the smaller size and particularly of tion by artificial methods. This is prac- 

 shorter clear length and containing the ticable as a matter of investment in cer- 

 most limbs and knots. Obviously they tain localities, but not everywhere. The 

 are the trees which yield inferior grades Forest Service hesitates to recommend 

 of lumber. By leaving such trees stand- it as a general practice because the mar- 

 ing and restricting the cut to the older ket values of timber are not yet in the 

 growth which contains the best quality main sufficiently high to meet the cost 

 of lumber, it is my judgment that oper- of planting and caring for the young 

 ators would often find the results bene- trees until they reach merchantable 

 ficial from a business and manufactur- size. Our investigations have shown 

 ing standpoint. The trees so left would that in the case of loblolly pine, which 

 insure a thorough restocking of the makes exceptionally rapid growth, a 

 ground which, together with the ex- good merchantable crop paying reason- 

 elusion of fires, would result in com- ably fair returns upon the investment 

 plete restocking of the land. may be secured in 40 years. With long- 



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