The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 221 



Much of the land of the long leaf pine region now under 

 cultivation had best be in forest growth, and likewise much in 

 forest might best be in agriculture. 



Therefore, might it not be a wiser and better plan to recog- 

 nize and follow the principle of practice laid down by European 

 states and by our National Forest Service, viz. : by an authorita- 

 tive soil survey and an intelligent land classification program, 

 whether they are absolute forest lands or absolute agricultural Cut-Over 

 lands, thus to determine these facts of land use? By this com- I-^^ds Should 

 petent means we shall then have definite knowledge to guide, as 

 to lands, their best use, crops, kinds, adaptability, etc. Then and 

 not till then shall we be able to determine intelligently and def- 

 initely the truth about them and their development, whether in 

 forest or in agriculture. 



Any other speculative scheme for colonization might, as it 

 has done in the past, prove disappointing if not disastrous, and 

 the results return to harass the inventor and injure the state 

 permanently. For in their agricultural exploitation let it not be 

 expected that so utilized they will be the "cure-all" for present 

 agricultural ills and shortages. It is not true, and though the 

 heavens fall, let the truth about them be known and told. 



Primarily the long leaf pine grows on poor soils. These cut- 

 over pine lands generally are poor lands and we must recognize 

 that fact. Unaided, we must not expect profitable production of 

 staple crops. However, they are of varying character, and, by 

 selection, many acres may be found that are susceptible of im- Crops Best 

 provement and responsive to intelligent fertilization. With the y, '^^ ^^ 

 proper rotation of crops, using co\v peas and other legumes in j^^^^^ig 

 the rotation, supplementing with liberal applications of commer- 

 cial, home-made, green and other manures, and with a good sys- 

 tem -of drainage, particularly on the pine flats, they can be made 

 profitable. 



This is abundantly attested by the $3,000,000 annual straw- 

 berry and vegetable crops produced on cut-over lands along the 

 Illinois Central railroad in Tahgipahoa Parish, and in the de- 

 veloping pecan and citrus fruit industries in the coast region of 

 the Gulf states. 



Again, on most of these soils, due to their sandy character, 

 peanuts, sweet potatoes, cow peas, velvet and soja beans produce 

 well, and their extensive growth and use on such lands will 



