FIFTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS 67 



by the long-leaf and loblolly pine flats and hardwood and cypress swamps. The 

 forest problem is chiefly that of protection against fire. 



In some instances where close logging and severe fire§ have left very few 

 seed trees, if any, large tracts may have to be reforested. Loblolly pine grows 

 vigorously throughout this coastal belt and appears to be very successful from 

 direct seeding. The cost of restocking by direct seeding, exclusive of protection, 

 will probably average about $4 per acre. Co-operative experiments started in 

 March, 1912, indicate good results from loblolly and from maritime pines, although 

 the warm winter of 1913-13 was not a satisfactory test for the latter species. 

 Sufficient time has not elapsed to enable definite conclusions to be drawn from 

 these reforesting experiments. The Forest Service has shown that maritime pine 

 (Pinus maritima), the pine of the Landes of the western coast of France, is well 

 adapted to central and northern Florida. Experiments are now being conducted 

 to test its adaptability to the Atlantic Coastal Plain in South Carolina and in New 

 Jersey. 



Very little indeed is being done by the States, except the co-operative experi- 

 ment by South Carolina, and general advice to private owners by North Carolina. 



The Semi-Tropicae Region 



The semi-tropical region actually includes only the southern half of the 

 peninsula of Florida, but, in its broader meaning, as used here, practically the 

 whole State is included. The original forest cover included chiefly Cuban and 

 long-leaf pines among its commercial species, and many small evergreen species 

 of both broad leaf and conifers. Excessive cutting followed by fires, repeated 

 almost annually, have largely reduced the forest cover on large areas to low brush 

 with scattering trees. The soil is characteristically sandy and generally low in 

 humus. 



There is great need of reforesting, but the problem at present is the imme- 

 diate need of adequate protection against fires. 



The climate is sub-tropical, and some of the more exotic tree species of 

 value commercially are well adapted to this climate. The cork oak ( Quercus 

 suber), yielding the commercial cork, the camphor tree {Camphor officinalis), 

 and a considerable number of species of eucalyptus rank first in importance of the 

 valuable exotic trees which have been found by test to thrive well in this region. 



Eucalypts and camphor have been widely planted by private owners during 

 the past quarter century for ornamental or shade purposes, although no 

 commercial plantations are known to have been attempted prior to 1907.* 



At the present time (1913) there is a very general interest among "the settlers 

 in central Florida as far south as Tampa in the forest planting of eucalypts as 

 a present asset to their property from a landscape standpoint, and for future 

 returns in wood of durable and useful qualities. It is impossible to estimate 

 what financial returns may reasonably be expected owing to uncertainty of con- 

 ditions, particularly market. There can hardly be any such local need of a heavy. 



* Forest Service Bull. 87, "Eucalypts in Florida," by R. Zon. U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture. 



