128 PROCEEDINGS OE THE 



often marks the difference between conservative and 

 destructive lumbering. A general lack of appreciation 

 among the woodsmen of the value of the raw material, 

 coupled with an entire disregard of the potential value 

 of immature trees, leads naturally to many forms of 

 excessive waste. Stringent rules and constant super- 

 vision are necessary to enforce careful work in the 

 woods. 



On our lands we have developed a system of 

 markings for cuttings which is cheap and effective. 

 Instead of marking all to be left standing or all trees 

 to be cut, we mark to be left standing only those trees 

 slightly below the diameter limit; for example, if we 

 are logging to 18 inches, we mark to be left standing 

 trees from 12 to 17 inches which might otherwise be 

 cut. It is obvious that the marking of smaller trees 

 is not necessary, since they would not be taken in any 

 case. Under this system the markings cost us approxi- 

 mately 3 cents per acre. 



Great care is taken in the fellings not to break or 

 otherwise injure the small growing timber. Trees 

 are thrown away from clumps of promising young 

 growth, and slash is not allowed to accumulate around 

 trees which are left standing a precaution necessary 

 to avoid damage in case of slash fires. 



In our railroad construction we avoid as much as 

 possible the use of longleaf pine; not only that which 

 is merchantable at present, but those trees which will 

 become merchantable within the next twenty years. 

 On our main line longleaf pine ties are still used, but 

 they are either sawn at the mill from rough and 

 knotty top logs, or they are hewn from dead and 

 down timber throughout the forest. Ties for the 

 temporary spurs are hewn from valueless hardwoods. 

 For corduroy and cribbing, defective pine is used, and 



