ENEMIES OF SHORTLEAF PINE. 109 



these bark-boring Scolytid beetles [Dendroctonus frontalis), which in former years was universally 

 considered a rare species. This invasion started in 1888 from the mountainous regions of West 

 Virginia and within four years spread throughout the Alleghany IMountains and adjacent lowlands 

 from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas. The amount of damage caused by this beetle within that time 

 to the Shortleaf Pine and other pine trees has been enormous. A contagious disease, probably of 

 a fungoid character, terminated in 1892 this invasion just as suddenly as it had commenced, and 

 in 1893 not a single living beetle could be found throughout the infested region. The white froth 

 hiding the larva of a tree jumper {Aphrophora paraUela) is very common on the summits of the 

 twigs, the larvji? of the sawflies are seen at the same season to feed on the teTider, young foliage, 

 which is also infested by a small white Gelcchia depositing its eggs on the leaves, the larvae boring 

 into them to provide shelter for their pupiu; and according to Mr. Schwarz the leaves of the 

 Shortleaf Pine are frequently found completely covered by a scale insect [MytilaHpiH pini/oJia), 

 causing what is termed in 2few England the " white malady " of the pine. Of the ilat-headed 

 borers, larvse of the Biqyrcstifia', the most injurious species are Chrysoholhris dentipes (Germ.), 

 Chalcophora rirf/iniensis (Drury); less common, Chalcophora georcjiana (,Lec.) and Bupresth lincata 

 Fab. 



Exposed to the same dangers of destruction by forest fires and by live stock of every kind, 

 which threaten the Longleaf species with extermination, the chances of this pine to resist them 

 and to escape such eventually are more favorable in consequence of the greater facilities for its 

 reproduction and of its rapidity of growth during the earliest stages of its existence. 



The pernicious influences of the first of these agencies is, however, painfully visible near the 

 settlements where the forest is exposed to its effects one season after another. In such localities 

 the pines are of stunted growth; in the middle stage — their very prime of life — they exhibit signs 

 of decay and early death. But few of the younger trees exposed to fire were found on close 

 examination to be free from defects and marks of impending disease. 



Confined to the gentle slopes of the low hill country, to rolling uplands, and to broad table-lands, 

 this tree is scarcely exposed to destruction by torrents and floods. Unsought for its resinous 

 juices, it is not subjected to the wholesale destruction caused by the prevalent methods employed 

 in the manufacture of naval stores. No other timber tree found in the southern portion of the 

 Atlantic forest region is more easy of natural reproduction than this species throughout the wide 

 range of its distribution. This is readily accounted for by its great fecundity, the seeds produced 

 in great abundance almost without failure every year being profusely spread far and wide, and 

 germinatinjv easily wherever the proper soil and a chance is offered for their reception. By their 

 thrifty growtti the seedlings soon gain the upper hand over tlie contemporary growth of other 

 species. 



Thi-oughoutthe interior of the Atlantic and the Gulf States tracts of upland, originally covered 

 with fine oak forests, which had been cleared for cultivation and but little over half a century ago 

 abandoned, are found at present occupied by the Shortleaf Pine, forming dense groves of trees 

 65 feet and over in height, with a diameter of 10 to 12 inches, st.anding 18 to 20 feet apart, with no 

 undergrowth whatever.' Such young forests, met with in every stage of growth, afl'ord highly 

 instructive lessons of the ways taken by nature in the spontaneous restoration of the forest. In 

 such spontaneous growths of the Shortleaf Pine the saplings form from the first mostly dense 

 thickets. Before having arrived at their tenth year the work of thinning has activelj' begun by 

 the death and speedy decay of the weakest. Thus favored by the access of light and air, the 

 surviving trees shoot rapidly upward, the most aspiring individuals spreading out their crown, 

 overshadowing those lagging behind, which being thus cut oft' from the influences above all others 

 required for their existence, one after another die. Before the trees have reached the middle stage 

 of their growth the stand of timber in the young forest appears to be firmly established, and 

 during the following period, embracing less than half a century, they have attained the fullness 

 of their growth, furnishing timber fully matured and of the dimensions and quality required by 

 the present standard. Unchecked by destructive influences the rotation of a crop of timber of the 

 Shortleaf Pine produced without the interference or assistance of man, can be said to be accom- 

 plished within a period of from eighty-five to ninety-five years. 



'Charles Mohr: Proeeediugs of the Fourth Anuual Meetiug of the Americau Forestry Congress, Bostou, Sep- 

 tember, 1885. 



