volume each year, the increase in hardwoods more 

 than offsets this loss, and for all species and sizes 

 combined the growing stock is increasing in volume 

 if not in value. 



Table 26 shows both board-foot and cubic-foot 

 growing stock as of January 1, 1936, the changes 

 taking place during the year, and the growing 

 stock as of January 1, 1937, for the various species 

 groups. The heavy mortality in pine occurred 

 chiefly in the turpentined stands, where mortality 

 exceeded growth. Nonturpentine pine species are 

 being heavily overcut, and indications are that this 

 is partly due to a purposeful reduction of their 

 competition with the more valuable dual-purpose 

 turpentine pines. The unfavorable balance in cy- 

 press is due to the combined effects of slow growth, 

 the heavy cut in old-growth timber, and the failure 

 of cypress to restock the area. Because of the favor- 

 able balance in the hardwood species, the cubic-foot 

 comparison of increment with drain for all species 

 combined in 1936 showed a surplus of more than 



11 million cubic feet. Although there was an in- 

 crease of nearly 35 million cubic feet of hardwoods, 

 the deficit of almost 16 million cubic feet of pine 

 and of 8 million of cypress brings about an unfa- 

 vorable condition. 



Under improved forest management the ratio of 

 growth to drain could be made much more favor- 

 able, and the supply of wood for industry could be 

 increased greatly. Adequate protection from fire 

 is the first and most important need to improve 

 the situation. This should result in much better 

 stocking. In addition, open areas should be re- 

 forested to utilize the land more fully and to build 

 up the depleted stands. Furthermore, the present 

 drain on high-quality material could be reduced 

 by eliminating the use of such material for low- 

 quality products; and much of the 190 million cubic 

 feet lost through mortality could be salvaged for 

 low-quality products, along with the material that 

 might be marketed from thinnings and improve- 

 ment cuttings. 



48 



