TREATMENT OF THE LONG-LEAF PINE FORESTS. 159 



leaf pine, and the inaniifactiire of resinous products is to be found 

 in Bui. 5 of the N. C. Geological Survey publications, 1S94. 



TREATMENT REQUIRED BY THE LONG-LEAF PINE FORESTS. 



On such loamy soils as are suitable for the growth of the lob- 

 lolly pine, and which it now occupies in a great part, "it would 

 probably be more advantageous to secure in regeneration a pure 

 growth of that species ; or, where the loblolly has only lately 

 begun to colonize, to offer it by protecting from fires, full facilities 

 tor securing a thick stand as the remaining long-leaf pine is 

 removed. 



The area e>f unl umbered long-leaf pine lands in this State is now 

 of small extent and is the seat of active lumbering operations. 

 The growth of pine is so open (the density in only a few places 

 being over three-fourths of the possibility), that if protected from 

 fire and hogs until after lumbered, there would be sufficient light 

 for a young crop to have secured a start beneath the old pines. 

 In localities in the transitional counties, where there is a heavy 

 underwood of small broad-leaf trees, chiefly post oak, Spanish oak, 

 and white oak, openings would have to be made in their cover in 

 order to afford the young pines sufficient light for development. 

 In many places where the pine has been regularly lumbered or 

 culled for a great many years there is a like thick growth of small 

 broad-leaf trees beneath the remaining pines, and here too the 

 cover would have to be thinned in order to give the young pines 

 the necessary light. In must ])laces there are still sufficient mature 

 pines standing, if left uninjured, to seed the ground after two or 

 more seed-years, if the seedlings are protected. Where there are 

 now no seed-bearing pines a crop would have to be artificially 

 introduced by either sowing the seed or setting out young plants. 

 As seed in a seed-year could be cheaply secured, and the young 

 plants if set out would also require protection, it would undoubt- 

 edly be more economical to introduce by seeding. The first and 

 absolute prerecjuisite before any attempt can be made to improve 

 the condition of the long leaf pine forests is entire exclusion of 

 cattle and hogs, and complete protection from fire. Laws enforc- 

 ing the confinement o+' live stock will in a great measure secure 



