﻿FOREST MANAGEMENT OF LOBLOLLY PINE. 33 



Work Following Cutting. 



The work following cutting consists in preparing the area for the 

 reception of the seed. Frequently no work at all will be necessary. 



The work which may have to be done to insure reproduction 

 includes: (1) Brush disposal, which also serves as a fire protective 

 measure and lessens danger from insect infestations; (2) disturbance 

 or destruction of the forest floor, including the leaf litter and unde- 

 composed humus; (3) destruction of ground cover and underbrush 

 including hardwood saplings; (4) cutting of worthless trees still 

 standing, which, preferably, should have been removed at the time 

 of the main cutting. The amount of work to be done varies with the 

 character of the site, whether wet or dry; with the condition of the 

 forest floor; and with the amount and character of the ground cover 

 and underbrush. 



On moist to wet sites no work at all is usually necessary, except 

 where there is considerable underbrush or worthless trees which it 

 is best to cut out. The growth of loblolly-pine seedlings on such 

 sites is hindered little or not at all by the forest floor, ground cover, 

 and brush left after lumbering. A fire, however, to destroy all under- 

 growth and brush, is rather beneficial than otherwise on such sites- 



On fresh to dry sites destruction of the forest floor, ground cover, 

 and brush is advisable and often necessary to insure reproduction. 

 The best method is to burn it. Disturbance of the forest floor during 

 logging operations will also improve conditions for reproduction. 

 In burning, care should be taken not to damage trees left for seed 

 or woods adjacent to the area cut. 



The time for preparing the seedbed should be governed by the 

 occurrence of adequate seed production, preferably at the same 

 time as the cutting if the two coincide; otherwise not until there is 

 a good seed year. 



Where the ground is in satisfactory condition for the reproduction 

 of the seed and there are sufficient seed trees, adequate reproduction 

 can be expected by the end of the first or second season after a good 

 seed year. 



The cost of these rough methods of preparing the ground for the 

 reception of the seed should in no case exceed $3 per acre, and is 

 uniformly cheaper than reforesting artificially. 



REFORESTING BY ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION. 



Where natural reproduction fails it is always possible to secure 

 fully-stocked stands of loblolly pine by resorting to artificial repro- 

 duction. This can be done more easily and at less expense for this 

 species than for most if not for any other species of pines in the 

 eastern United States. 



