FOEEST PROBLEMS OF THE STATE. 31 



seeds of the latter two species, being lighter, are carried greater dis- 

 tances by the wind, enabling them to take possession of land for- 

 merly occupied by longleaf pine alone. The much more rapid growth 

 of shortleaf, and especially of loblolly, and the increasing value of 

 their woods, make it certain that second-growth pine lands well 

 stocked with shortleaf and loblolly timber will be more valuable in 

 future than are the best stands of longleaf to-day. 



The permanent management of pine lands rests largely with lum- 

 bermen and lumber companies who own moderately small holdings 

 free from debt. Such individuals and concerns are sufficiently identi- 

 fied with the region to carry on their lumber business there indefi- 

 nitely. Many, in fact, are now buying at low prices pine land cut 

 over by large companies, in order to obtain profitable returns after 

 a period of years. 



TURPENTINING. 



The turpentine industry in Louisiana is comparatively new. The 

 industry is gradually moving westward from Alabama and Missis- 

 sippi into Louisiana, where at the present time it is confined largely 

 to the longleaf flats in the Florida parishes east of the Mississippi 

 Kiver. In the lower parishes of the longleaf region the industry will 

 doubtless increase rapidly within the next few years. Unfortunately 

 it seems certain that it will be carried on more extensively on cut-over 

 lands well stocked with young thrifty timber than elsewhere. 



If not utilized soon after being tapped a considerable portion 

 of boxed timber is damaged by fire, insects, and fungus diseases. 

 Although loss of resin results in practically no direct injury to the 

 trees, the butt log becomes discolored and pitchy. With the present 

 method of chipping, practically all of the smaller trees and many of 

 the larger ones are blown down within a few years. Only trees above 

 12 or 14 inches in diameter should be tapped, and then only from 

 three to four years in advance of logging. The cup system of tur- 

 pentining is not only less wasteful of turpentine but less injurious to 

 the trees than is the present system of boxing. 



For the owner of timberland proper management of turpentine 

 operations in connection with lumbering is exceedingly important. 

 Formerly turpentine companies owned the trees from which they 

 obtained their product, later selling them to lumbermen. Within 

 recent years, however, the common practice has been to purchase the 

 turpentine privilege at a lump sum from the owner of the timber. 

 Under both methods turpentine operations have been carried on with 

 little regard for the value of the timber itself. It is often a tempta- 

 tion for a sawmill man who is in need of money to accept a cash offer 

 made to him for the turpentine privilege. With little or no pro- 

 yision in the contract regulating the methods used by the turpentine 



