54 SOUTHEASTERN PINE TYPE 



in many places made it second in importance to its more vigorous 

 competitor, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Shortleaf, pond, 

 Cuban, pitch and scrub pine are also found within this type but 

 seldom in pure stands over large areas like the longleaf and 

 loblolly pines. 



In determining the distribution of tne stands lumbering, fire 

 and agriculture are the controlling factors. Virgin timber is 

 almost invariably pure longleaf pine. Areas which have been 

 logged and burnt may be either longleaf or loblolly but usually 

 the latter species is more abundant. Where the land has been 

 cleared for tillage, various species may take possession depending 

 upon the latitude and the degree of soil exhaustion. In the north- 

 ern part of the Coastal Plain in New Jersey, Delaware and 

 Virginia scrub pine is generally the first invader on abandoned 

 fields with pitch pine occurring only on the poorest portions. 

 From Virginia to South Carohna loblolly pine plays the role of 

 soil reclaimer while farther south slash or Cuban pine gives 

 promise of becoming an important source of revenue on worn out 

 lands, and those from which long leaf pine has been cut. 



Were fire kept out of the southern pine region the damage 

 would become negligible. Unfortunately, however, there are 

 many reasons why the practice of annual burning has become the 

 rule. First of all there is the argument that the grazing is im- 

 proved by burning out the old grass every spring. Then, too, 

 the turpentine hackers Hke to burn in order to discourage the 

 snakes. So potent are these arguments with the natives that the 

 owners of turpentine orchards have adopted the practice of 

 burning around their tapped trees after the inflammable debris 

 has been raked away from the base in order to protect them from 

 fire. Nor can this usage be condemned under present conditions. 

 As long as fires are allowed to burn unchecked it is better to burn 

 lightly annually making provision for the protection of the tapped 

 trees than to allow the debris to accumulate around the bases of 

 the trees to such an extent that the tree is sure to be burnt thru 

 in case of fire. 



Freedom from fires will only come as a result of a long cam- 

 paign of public education. Yet it is easy to show that the small 



