40 BULLETIN 1061, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



These usually have been standing apart and are relatively very 

 wind-firm; in favorable situations they will increase rapidly in 

 size after the logging of the other trees. A woodsman can readily 

 come to recognize such trees, and they should be chosen and marked 

 by paint or other means prior to logging. If all slash is cleared 

 away from the trees, and proper protection from fire is provided, 

 within periods of 5 to 15 years the seed trees should provide ample 

 young growth and be of enough value to pay all costs and a fair 

 rate of interest on the total investment. (PL XII.) The prob- 

 able value of the young pine stand by the twentieth year should be 

 sufficient to offset and justify the whole cost of producing the 

 trees, including the holding of the land. In general, seed trees of 



If cut-over lands have been properly logged, and if 

 seed trees have been left in the operation and been 

 given adequate fire protection, the lands will become 

 reforested naturally and the planting of seed will 

 not be necessary. 



There are many millions of acres of southern pine 

 lands which have been cut so heavily or burned over 

 so often and so completely that they can not become 

 restocked naturally, and will therefore lie idle unless 

 they are artificially reforested by the sowing of seed 

 or the planting of seedlings. 



If these lands were restored to timber production 

 and were given adequate fire protection they would 

 produce yearly from 100 to 400 board feet per acre 

 of longleaf pine. 



the right kind should cause no loss but rather prove to be a good 

 investment. 



A seed-tree law. — As a step in the development of sound forest 

 principles, the State of Louisiana in 1920 enacted a seed-tree law. 

 It is required that at least one seed tree per acre be left on lands 

 cut by any individual or company, unless such land is agricultural 

 in character and will be used for that purpose. A seed tree has 

 since been defined as a " sound tree of well- developed crown and 

 not less than 8 inches in diameter at 2 feet above the ground." The 

 law covers just about the minimum requirement in this respect. It 

 is better if at least three to five such trees per acre are left. The 

 purpose of the law is to prevent complete denudation of forest land 

 and yet work no hardship upon the owners. Some chance, at least, 



