540 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST 



[Vol. XLI 



The longleaf pine is characteristic of the so called Southern Pine 

 Forest, and occurs principally in a belt some 125 miles broad, from 

 Virginia south and west along the coast to within a short distance of 

 the Mississippi River, and in southeastern Texas. The chief type 

 is that of a pure forest. Owing to various destructive causes, these 

 forests are largely in groups of different ages. A second, mixed type 

 is found farther inland, and is largely determined by differences in the 

 composition of the soil. Here the longleaf pines occur on the hiUtops 

 while farther down, on the richer or damper slopes are the oaks, 

 hickories, and other deciduous species, with shortleaf and loblolly 



The natural course of evolution of the longleaf pine forest and its 

 method of reproduction are briefly sketched. The species is intolerant 

 of shade and requires direct overhead light, since the dense terminal 

 clusters of leaves shade the buds from side light. 



The chief danger to which the southern forests are subject, is doubt- 

 less fire, hence this is treated at considerable length. The fires in 

 longleaf pine forests are exclusively surface fires, which not only 

 des'troy the young seedlings in the grass, but injure the butts of the 

 older trees, causing often considerable damage. The frequency of 

 fires, set either accidentally or purposely for burning over grass lands, 

 makes imperative the employment of rangers and the construction of 

 fire lanes about commercial forests. As a rule, seedlings of one or 

 two years' growth are destroyed by surface fires, but older plants 

 usuaily escape total destruction by virtue of their thick bark and the 

 dense head of long needles that not only protect the terminal bud but 

 form a miniature fire screen by hanging down about the short stem 

 to the ground. Frequent fires will, hoAvever, kill even these older 

 seedlings, to say nothing of their destructive action on the humus. 



The future silvicultural treatment of these forests is considered in 

 Chapter 8. The forest must be perpetuated as well as exploited. 

 Cutting to a diameter limit of 16 inches has been recommended. 

 In some cases, a method of clear cutting with reserve trees left for 

 seeding the cut over area will probably be found good. The aim of 

 future management will also be partly to bring these ton >rs info a 

 more uniform condition instead of their present un ai ii n oulariiy. 



Although more extended tables as to rates of -lowih aii<l \.)liinies 

 might have been added, this little book will no (l<.ul.i MTvr it> purpose 

 in helping the linnberniaii and the general r.'ader to a \n \\i-r niider- 

 standing of the proper study and ireanneni of our MHirlieru jMne 

 .1 Allen. 



