44 sHORTLEAF PINE IN VIRGINIA. 



This is a dark brown snuff-colored "punk" which gains entrance 

 into the heartwood of the upper part of the stem through knot 

 holes, and into the lower part by wounds caused by falling trees, 

 fire scars, '(Plate VI, fig. 2), and insects. Trees which show the 

 "punk" should be promptly cut. 



Pine stands are also exposed to damage from windstorms, and 

 from sleet and wet snow. The damage by wind cannot be pre- 

 vented. Fortunately, short-leaf pine, when it grows on deep soils, 

 is anchored by a long, strong taproot, and is very windfirm. On 

 shallow soils, particularly a hard-pan near the surface which 

 checks the descent of the taproot, it windfalls badly. Slender trees 

 are occasionally bent or even broken by wind. Frequent light thin- 

 nings' render the trees in such stands more windfirm. 



Sleet and wet snow are dangers against which there is no ade- 

 quate protection. The weight of sleet and wet snow frequently 

 breaks the leaders, and in crowded stands may bend many stems 

 beyond recovery, break them, or even uproot them. The only pre- 

 cautionary measure is to strengthen the resisting power of limbs 

 and stems by thinning. Trees in young stands less than twenty 

 years old are the most likely to be broken and bent, while trees in 

 older stands, in which isolation is taking place, are the most apt 

 to be overturned. Frequently, insect depredations follow r this kind 

 of damage. 



