LONGLEAE PINE. 29 



working. After being completely worked the trees are cut and re- 

 moved, giving space for the accelerated growth of the remaining 

 stand. In the working the trees are bled for about 4 years (with a 

 relatively narrow face to a height of 6 feet), followed by a rest for 

 about 3 years. This operation is then repeated twice with a new 

 face each time, representing in all a working period of about 20 

 years. If the age of the stand at the start was 30 years, it is now 

 50 years old. The trees are now cut and utilized, and another 20- 

 year working period begun, making use of the larger trees of the 

 remaining stand. 



If the yearly burnings in connection with the turpentining de- 

 stroys most of the young growth which starts, as seems likely, in 

 order to secure a satisfactory reforestation of the tract, it may be 

 necessary, in the case of either method of turpentining, to secure for- 

 est regeneration by the artificial means of seed sowing or by plant- 

 ing nursery-grown seedlings. 



Operating old-growth timber on the Florida National. Forest. — 

 The regulations for turpentine operations on Government-owned tim- 

 ber on the Florida National Forest will afford suggestions to private 

 owners desiring to work or lease their timber, under methods of 

 operation that aim to reduce the injury and waste and maintain the 

 production of turpentine over a maximum period of years. The 

 enforcement of these requirements has been no obstacle to success- 

 ful forest management, but rather has proved to be a great help. 

 Competition for turpentine rights is keen among operators, and in 

 1919 the bids reached the high mark of $25.70 per 100 cups. 



Close observation and study of the best practice of turpentining 

 has resulted in the regulation of 1 cup on trees measuring from 10 

 to 15 inches, inclusive, in diameter; 2 cups on trees 16 to 24 inches; 

 and not more than 3 cups on any tree. The location of the Forest 

 in western Florida is in a region of deep, dry, sandy soil, where only 

 longleaf pine and southern blackjack oak are able to maintain an 

 existence and where the pine is mostly mature or slow growing. 



The timber, however, is worked for about 14 years out of a total 

 of 15 to IT years. The procedure normally is about as follows, sub- 

 jet to minor variations depending upon conditions: Virgin crop 

 worked for 3 years, high-face 4 years (sometimes 3) ; a rest period 

 usually of 3 years (minimum of one year) ; back-cupping carried on 

 for 3 years, and high-face back-rutting for 3 or 1 years. The first 

 working is sold, or if desired, the combined first and second work- 

 ings together. After the rest interval the same practice of selling 



the rights i- used in tlie back cuppings. The plan is to sell the tim 

 ber ;ii <!)"■ expiration of the working, which will be completed on n 

 certain trad in aboul .5 years more, the present season being the 



eleventh since turpentine operations were begun. 



