UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Contribution from the Forest Service, 

 HENRY S. GRAVES, Forester 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



November 22, 1915 



SHORTLEAF PINE: ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

 AND FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



By Wilbuk R. Mattoon, Forest Examiner. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Adaptability for forest management 1 



Name 2 



Present supply 2 



Annual cut of southern yellow pine 5 



The wood 6 



Lumber industry 11 



Stumpage value 21 



Essentials of forest management 24 



Page. 



Protection 24 



Yield 27 



Rotation 32 



Thinnings 34 



Cutting and reproduction 45 



Cutting on the National Forests of Arkansas. . 48 



Regeneration by sowing and planting 51 



Appendix 56 



ADAPTABILITY FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT. 1 



Shortleaf pine possesses characteristics of growth which espe- 

 cially fit it for profitable forest management throughout a large 

 part of the Eastern and Southern States. Over extensive areas from 

 Maryland southward and westward to the Mississippi River it 

 occurs as second growth, both in pure stands and mixed with hard- 

 woods, and in the Gulf States and the central Mississippi Basin it 

 forms a large proportion of the remaining virgin southern yellow 

 pine. In a considerable portion of these regions shortleaf pine 

 excels all other coniferous species in value and profitableness as a 

 timber crop. It is one of the more important commercial pines and 



1 Frequent reference iH hereafter made to Department Bulletin No. 244, " Life History 

 of Shortleaf Pine," which treatB in some detail of subjects of basic importance in the 

 consideration of forest management such as size, age, soil, climatic demands, reproduc- 

 tion, and growth. 



NoiK. — This bulletin Is of value to those who are Interested in the timber supply of the 

 Eastern and Southern States, and In the management of tracts of shortleaf pine for their 

 highest financial returns. II will be helpful to those In the regions covered desiring to 

 h denuded pine uplands by means of sowing and planting. 



6497°- -Bull. 308—15 1 



