Southern Pines Pay 



Loss and Ruin from One Fire 



A HEAVY stand of small, pole-size longleaf pines in northern Florida 

 -^•*- was thinned to leave about 300 trees per acre evenly spaced. These 

 trees were the straightest and most thrifty in the original stand. Condi- 

 tions were ideal for rapid growth of high-quality timber. 



A hot fire caused by human carelessness in burning broomsedge swept 

 through the forest. It killed many of the trees and weakened all of them. 

 Soon a heavy epidemic infestation of bark beetles developed, killing most 

 of the living trees already weakened by the fire. 



On these two pages are pictures that show vividly what the fire did. 

 The picture above on the opposite page shows the stand after thinning. 

 Three hours later the fire occurred. The lower picture was taken the 

 next day; tree No. 4, felled by the fire, may be seen in the right fore- 

 ground. The growing trees have been badly damaged, the under- 

 growth has been destroyed, and the possibilities of a future forest appear 

 very uncertain. 



Five years later the picture on this page was taken, confirming the 

 prediction of the earlier view. Only a few scattered pine seedlings may be 

 seen in the grass. Nearly a half century will be required to get a full 

 timber crop. 



In northern Florida is a tract of land that, for about 20 years following 

 logging of the virgin longleaf and slash pine, burned over each winter 

 Under management for several years as a part of the Osceola National. 

 Forest, pine seedlings have sprung up from seeds blown from neighboring 



The effects of the fire are still very evident 5 years later {April 13, 1937). This photograph 

 shows the same area pictured on the opposite page. F-345171 



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