278 WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



but in many localities where the pine has been removed, their 

 places are being occupied by the oaks and other hardwoods. 



Living examples of the different species of pine that are now 

 standing, and are exempt from the effects of forest fires, are ap- 

 parently in a more healthy condition than they have been for 

 many years. In the present pine areas of the State I would 

 judge that ninety per cent, of the merchantable pine timber has 

 been removed or has died. There is, however, a considerable 

 amount of young pine, especially in the eastern, southern and 

 western sections of the State, which if protected from fire 

 would soon produce a large amount of valuable timber. 



INFLUENCES WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PINE 

 TIMBER OF THE STATE. 



From the time the first settlers entered the several sections 

 of the State where the pine grew, to the present, the pine has 

 suffered more severely perhaps from the influence of civiliza- 

 tion, and from its numerous natural enemies, than has any 

 other of our commercial timber trees. This is due to their sus- 

 ceptibility to injury and destruction, from changed conditions 

 and effects of fire ; to their numerous insect and other enemies ; 

 and to the fact that they furnished to the early settlers the first 

 and most desirable forest products of a commerical value, as 

 well as convenient and more suitable material for the rudely 

 constructed farm houses, and outbuildings of the pioneer 

 farmers. 



Thus, in all the regions in which the pine predominated or 

 occurred in mixed forests, the tall, straight trunks of the white, 

 yellow, pitch, and even of the scrub pine, were selected for 

 building material. They used the hewn Jogs for the walls and 

 joist, pine poles for the rafters, pine shingles for the roof, and 

 even pine sticks for their clay and stick chimneys. As the 

 country became more thickly settled timber began to have a 

 commercial value for shipment to market. At this early date 

 the white and yellow pine were the only kinds worth cutting 

 for this purpose (except perhaps a limited amount of poplar, 

 walnut, cherry, etc.) At first, the best trees and those only 



