results into use in the 

 production of seedlings 

 has been facilitated through 

 issuance of handbooks and 

 through southern nursery 

 conferences (e.g., Lantz 

 1984) and a southern 

 containerized forest tree 

 seedling conference (e.g., 

 Guldin and Barnett 1981). 



Research on reforestation 

 has undoubtedly contribut- 

 ed greatly to the extensive 

 tree-planting programs 

 carried out in the South. By 

 1979, some 20 million acres 

 of southern pine plantations 

 had been established, with 

 new plantings covering 

 more than 1.5 million acres 

 annually. 



Forest researchers also 

 have given considerable 

 attention to methods for 

 obtaining natural regenera- 

 tion of the southern pines. 

 Findings indicate that sever- 

 al practical methods are 

 available (e.g., Lawson 

 1979). A 36-year study of 

 four silvicultural methods in 

 loblolly and shortleaf pine 

 stands showed that ade- 

 quate and low-cost regener- 

 ation can be obtained with 

 seed-tree, clearcutting, 

 selection, and diameter-limit 

 cutting. Difficulties in regen- 



erating longleaf pine led 

 many foresters in the 1950's 

 and 1960's to plant alterna- 

 tive species such as slash 

 pine. However, research 

 developed new guidelines 

 for use of the shelterwood 

 system, and longleaf has 

 regained an important role 

 in pine management (Croker 

 and Boyer 1975). 



Management guidelines 

 based on the findings of 

 such research have been 

 widely used both by industri- 

 al foresters and by public 

 service foresters in providing 

 technical assistance to 

 landowners who are reluc- 

 tant or unable to invest in 

 systems of clearcutting and 

 planting. Natural regenera- 

 tion is a low-cost method 

 but provides limited control 

 of stocking, takes more 

 time, and provides less 

 opportunity for genetic 

 improvement than planting 

 selected seedlings. 



In the case of southern 

 hardwoods, considerable 

 research also has been 

 conducted both on ways of 

 obtaining natural regenera- 

 tion of preferred hardwoods 

 and on establishment of 

 plantations, particularly of 

 cottonwood in the Delta 



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