44 BULLETIN 244, L T . S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SCOTCH AND SHORTLEAF PINES. 



In a number of silvical features Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) and 

 shortleaf pine appear to be quite similar. 



Both trees belong to the two-leaved group of pines J and form 

 close stands made up of tall stems, free from branches for two-thirds 

 of their length and terminating in short compact crowns. Both are 

 vigorous and hardy growers and not subject to any markedly serious 

 parasitic fungous disease. While both species are adapted to the 

 drier type of soil occurring on the uplands, they differ in belonging 

 characteristically to different zones of climate. Scotch pine does 

 not require nearly so much heat during the summer and will endure 

 much lower temperatures than shortleaf in winter. The seeds of 

 both appear practically the same in size and general vigor, and both 

 species are readily grown in the nursery. Shortleaf, however, regen- 

 erates itself by sprouting from the stump, inherently possesses a 

 much straighter stem, has smaller-sized branches, and cleans itself 

 more quickly in stands. Fully stocked stands of Scotch pine at any 

 specified age contain a greater number of trees, although of smaller 

 size than shortleaf pine indicating a somewhat greater degree of 

 tolerance. 



All measurements of yield show considerably larger returns from 

 shortleaf than from Scotch pine. The maximum average annual 

 growth per acre of shortleaf pine on the best quality sites hi North 

 Carolina is 117 cubic feet at the age of 55 years; that of Scotch pine 

 in Germany, about 90 cubic feet at 55 years. These maximum yields 

 range downward on the poorest quality sites to 65 cubic feet at 80 

 years for shortleaf pine and about 40 cubic feet for Scotch pine at 

 65 years. Weise's table for Scotch pine is based upon 351 sample 

 tracts located in 5 German States, while the shortleaf-pine table shows 

 the results of only 80 sample tracts located in 14 counties in North 

 Carolina. Table 19 shows several points of likeness and unlikeness 

 in these two pines. The shortleaf data are not so representative of 

 the species as that for Scotch pine. The German plots were all normal 

 stands, last thinned just prior to the measurement, while the North 

 Carolina shortleaf plots were average well-stocked natural untreated 

 stands in old fields, thinned somewhat by the action of fires. Under 

 these unlike conditions the results can not be fairly comparable, but 

 may be taken as an indication of the character and possibilities of 

 the two pines. 



In respect to height, shortleaf pine leads under all conditions of 

 age and situation, but the difference is most marked during about 

 the first 30 to 40 years, and on the poorer sites at all ages up to 80 

 years. 



1 Shortleaf varies to three leaves in the bundle on the vigorous growing parts of the crown. 



