SHORTLEAF PINE : IMPORTANCE AND MANAGEMENT. 



41 



than any of its hardwood associates. In the lower and deeper soils 

 red gum comes close to shortleaf pine in volume production. In 

 general the principles of thinnings stated above for pure stands 

 apply with only minor modifications to mixed pine and hardwood 

 stands. 



RETURNS FROM THINNED STANDS. 



The relation of cost to financial return is much the same for 

 thinning shortleaf stands as for similar operations with farm crops. 

 The material obtained from thinnings can usually be utilized for 

 cordwood, rails, and other purposes, and often pays for the work 

 from the start. A market for peeled poles can perhaps be developed, 

 especially in view of the success of treating sap pine with wood pre- 

 servatives. The factors which determine the immediate financial 

 success of thinning an acre of young pine vary widely with age, 

 density, location, and opportunity for using the product. 



The results obtained by thinning shortleaf pine in Virginia have 

 been studied by the Forest Service in cooperation with the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and Immigration of the State of Virginia. 

 The study was made by Mr. W. W. Ashe, of the Forest Service, and 

 the results are embodied in a publication issued in 1913 by the State, 

 entitled " Shortleaf Pine in Virginia — The Increase in Its Yield by 

 Thinnings." The tables and discussion which follow are based upon 

 this report, and may be considered applicable over the northern and 

 central Piedmont region, and with relatively small modifications over 

 the entire region of distribution. 



Saw timber. — The largest yield of saw timber is obtained from 

 stands which are periodically and lightly thinned, following an 

 earlier period of moderate crowding. The possibilities of increase in 

 yield of lumber as a direct result of thinning are clearly indicated 

 in Table 20, showing yields for understocked, thinned, and crowded 

 unthinned stands. 



Table 20. — Yield l of saw timber from understocked, crowded, and thmned 

 stands of shortleaf pine in Virginia. 



[Trees 9 inches and over in diameter at breast height.] 





Crowded stands, 



Fully s 



tocked, 



Understocked 



Age. 



unthinned. 



thinned stands. 



stands. 

















Trees 



Yield. 



Trees 



Yiold. 



Trees 



Yield. 





per acre. 





per acre. 





per acre. 





Yearn. 





Bd./L 





Bd.ft. 





Jt'l. ft. 



30 



1 , 288 



200 



708 



8,400 



860 



8,800 



40 



800 



6,000 



608 



in, 100 



800 



/>,700 



60 



638 



13, loo 



386 



20, 400 



180 



(i, OIK) 



60 



:w5 



Hi, sou 



2:,:, 



23,000 



100 



7, 800 



' Yield in terms of mill cut production under close utilization. 



