phenotypically "plus" trees. 
These were grafted onto 
seedling rootstocks and 
planted in orchards, where 
they were given special care. 
Progeny tests of each parent 
were established to 
determine their values as 
parents (Dorman and Kraus 
1967, Chapman 1981). Those 
least desirable have been 
removed from the orchards. 
All Southern States have 
seed orchards and are 
continuing to seek greater 
improvement through tree 
breeding and exchanges of 
material among cooperators 
southwide. As progeny test 
results become available, 
new second-generation 
orchards are being 
established. In addition to 
general growth 
characteristics such as rate 
of growth, size and numbers 
of limbs, and stem 
straightness, tree breeders 
consider resistance to 
disease an important trait. 
Even a modest increase in 
resistance to fusiform rust 
can mean a substantial 
increase in per-acre stand 
growth in areas with high 
rust hazard. 
Orchards were begun at 
least 20 years ago by 9 of 
66 
the 12 States. Acreage 
established by June 1981, 
the last available compilation, 
showed the Southern States 
with 3,375 acres, 78 percent 
of all State-owned seed 
orchards, and 27 percent of 
all orchards in the Nation. 
While the proportion varies 
from year to year depending 
on seed crop, several States 
now produce the majority of 
their loblolly and slash pine 
planting stock from orchard 
seed. Southern State seed 
orchards also include 
shortleaf, sand, Virginia, and 
white pines, and small 
acreages of several 
Christmas tree species and 
hardwoods (USDA Forest 
Service 1982). 
Landowner Assistance 
Technical assistance to 
individual landowners has 
been provided by public 
forestry agencies since 
Pinchot’s Circular 21. It was 
expanded with section 5 of 
the Clarke-McNary Act and 
later the Norris-Doxey Farm 
Forestry Act of 1937. Though 
there was controversy in the 
administration of 
Norris-Doxey, the limited 
funds provided made it 
possible for cooperating 
