54 BULLETIN 308, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tacks of Aecidium pini, a rust fungus. 1 Pure plantations of shortleaf 

 promise larger financial returns than any other form. Mixed stands 

 afford better protection against large losses from disease and insect 

 ravages, as well as a variety of wood for use on the farm and to 

 supply markets which may offer better returns for such sales. 



Plantations of shortleaf now cover several hundred acres on the 

 Vanderbilt estate at Biltmore in western North Carolina. These 

 were planted beginning about 1900 when this estate was placed under 

 intensive forest management. The average growth in height of the 

 9-year-old shortleaf pine measured on eight different tracts cover- 

 ing an area of 66 acres was exactly 2 feet annually. The stock used 

 was mostly 1-year-old seedlings, and some 2 years old. Shortleaf 

 has been planted in pure stands and in mixture with sugar maple, 

 white pine, walnut, and other hardwoods. The plantations are 

 strikingly uniform in development and have suffered no serious 

 injury. At 9 years old in mixed plantations sugar maple averages 

 about 7 feet in height, shortleaf pine 18 feet, and white pine mostly 

 from 2 to 5 feet less than the shortleaf. 1 For the upper altitudes 

 of 2,200 to 3,000 feet this mixture was successful, although the pure 

 stands are equally so and are to be preferred. The trees were mostly 

 planted 2 feet apart in rows spaced 5 feet, 2 and following the con- 

 tour of the hills in order to check soil erosion. The small 1 -year- old 

 seedlings were planted in holes made with a dibble (wooden spike 

 with a handle). Experimental plantations have been made by New 

 Jersey, South Carolina, and possibly other States, but the planting 

 of shortleaf pine on an extensive scale at Biltmore furnishes the 

 best example of the possibility of artificial reforestation. 



PROTECTION. 



Protection against fire and cattle is essential until the trees are 

 2 to 4 inches in diameter and the bark is thick enough to prevent 

 injury from these sources. Shortleaf, however, sprouts freely fol- 

 lowing fire or cutting during the period up to about 10 years of age. 

 In field seeding, mice, chipmunks, and other forms of animal life 

 frequently cause damage during germination. The best means of 

 combating these is to scatter poisoned grain or seed over the tract 

 about a week before and again at the time of seed sowing. 3 In more 

 remote regions, where stock laws are antiquated or poorly enforced, 

 it may be necessary to exclude hogs, since they sometimes root up 

 seed spots, although they do not eat the small seeds to any extent. 



1 Dr. C. A. Schenck, formerly in charge of the forest on the Biltmore Vanderbilt estate. 



2 For average conditions this is much too close a spacing. 



3 Formulas for poisoned bait can be obtained upon application to the Bureau of Bio- 

 logical Survey, Washington, D. C. 



