LONGLEAF PINE. 49 



acre. During the 3-year period, the loss was 41 trees, mostly from 

 24 to 30 inches in diameter, scaling an average of 654 feet each, or 

 an average loss of 222 board feet per acre. Most of the trees were 

 killed by insects or blown down. Fires, which had run every year, 

 caused the death of about 4 trees of smaller sizes. No evidence 

 appeared of unusual wind or insect damage having been wrought. 



TIMBER AND LIVE STOCK. 



A large lumber company, operating exclusively in southern Missis- 

 sippi and eastern Louisiana, after a general survey has estimated 

 that about one-quarter of its cut-over lands lying mostly on the 



On the poorer lands no other crop promises to pay 

 so well as timber growing. 



The chief sources of future economic production 

 on the vast area of cut-over lands of the South will 

 unquestionably be agriculture, grazing, and timber 

 growing. The advantages for investments in the 

 growing of pine timber in the southern region are: 

 (1) An abundance of land of relatively low value in 

 excess of all that can possibly be used during the 

 next few decades for all other purposes; (2) a very 

 long growing season, resulting in rapid timber pro- 

 duction; (3) easy logging and shipping conditions; 

 and (4) relative proximity to the large northern and 

 eastern markets. 



upper coastal plain soils is adapted to farming, and that the bulk 

 of the land is better suited to other uses. The great flatwoods sec- 

 tion, which was originally forested, chiefly with longleaf pine, 

 offers little promise of being wanted extensively for cultivated 

 crops. Only 10 to 15 per cent of this natural soil division and of 

 the near-by Lands is now in farms. The utilization in the near 

 future of these nonproductive lands for timber growing and for 

 grazing purposes is unquestionably the only logical solution of the 

 problem (PL XX). 51 



The cut-over hinds of the South that are practically idle because 

 they contain little or no forest reproduction or young growth are 

 estimated at not less than 30,000,000 acres. Of this amount by far 

 the greater portion consists of longleaf pine lands, an area equiva- 



» Agriculture Bulletin 827, "The Cut-orei Pine Landi of the South for Bmt Cattle 

 Production " 



