L=a U U U=J 



UU 



DEC 2 8 1914 



Division of Forestry 

 University of California 



Shortleaf Pine in Virginia 



The study upon which this report is based was undertaken by 

 the Forest Service in co-operation with the State of ^Virginia, the 

 work being done under the direction of the officer in charge 

 of State Co-operation in the Forest Service. By the terms of the 

 co-operative agreement, the State is authorized to publish the find- 

 ings of the investigation. 



PURPOSES AND RESULTS. 



At the request of Hon. C. A. Swanson, Governor of Virginia, 

 the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, in 

 the autumn of 1909, made an examination of the second-growth 

 shortleaf pine in old fields in the middle portion of Virginia. 

 The cost of this work was borne jointly by the State of Virginia 

 and the Forest Service. 



The examination included a detailed investigation of stands of 

 pine in old fields in Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Brunswick, and 

 Hanover counties, which was supplemented by a general examina- 

 tion of the stands in other counties in the middle part of the State. 

 Its scope was : 



(1) To ascertain the condition of the old-field stands and the 

 value of their timber for lumber uses; 



(2) To determine the effect of lumbering on the future yields 

 of the stands and to ascertain whether conservative methods of 

 cutting could be employed profitably ; 



(3) To determine the yield of stands of different ages; 



(4) To recommend methods of thinning and cutting to ac- 

 celerate growth ; 



(5) To devise methods of protection for young growth. 



The conclusions reached as a result of the investigation can be 

 summarized as follows: 



Shortleaf pine is the most important tree in twenty south- 

 central counties, but the yield from the pine lands is low because 

 there is neither protection nor a definite system of cutting. The 

 yield can be greatly increased and the quality of timber improved 

 by a regular system of management. 



'(1) Better protection against fires and insects is required in 

 most stands. Young stands, especially while in process of stocking. 



