FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



87 



liable trees, and reproduction from these, both seedling and sprout, 

 should be encouraged. Since black oak, because its growth is fairly 

 rapid, is possibly the most valuable of the oaks in this type, it may be 

 favored over other oaks. Sprout reproduction of the desirable species 

 may be encouraged by cutting during the winter and spring. The least 

 valuable species can be discouraged by cutting them in the summer, 

 thus weakening their sprouting capacity. Seedling reproduction is en- 

 couraged by leaving seed trees of the desired kinds so placed over the 

 area that the most valuable species will seed up those areas best adapted 

 to their growth. 



All old trees except those necessary for seed trees should be removed, 

 if the sale of the material can be made to pay the cost of removal. As 

 a great part of the forests of this type are in the form of farmers' wood- 

 lots, much of the old timber can be cut for firewood and other domestic 

 purposes. The great object in these woods should be to substitute 

 healthy, thrifty growing trees of the more valuable species for the old, 

 slow growing cull trees, which now occupy a large part of the forest. 



Where shortleaf pine is present in these forests this tree should be 

 favored in all the poorer situations, as it grows . fairly rapidly, and 

 early attains merchantable size. Many of the present hardwood stands 

 would be greatly improved by converting them into shortleaf pine 

 stands, and this should be the object of management where poplar, 

 chestnut, and hickory do not thrive. This conversion may be accom- 

 plished in a large measure by leaving three or four good seed trees to the 

 acre of shortleaf pine. Seedlings of this species will thus take the place 

 of the hardwoods when they are removed. Such converted forests are 

 seen throughout this type, and form some of its most valuable stands. 



On areas where pure pine stands occur, shortleaf should be favored at 

 the expense of pitch pine and scrub pine. Shortleaf seeds readily, and 

 there should be no difficulty in re-seeding a second growth forest contain- 

 ing a large percentage of shortleaf, if seed trees of this species are left 

 and the other pines cut close. Where white pine occurs in this pure pine 

 type, its reproduction should be encouraged in every possible way. 



In certain parts of the plateau type white pine flourishes, and is one 

 of the most rapid growing trees. These trees should be encouraged in 

 all lumbering operations by leaving seed trees, and by protecting any 

 white pine which has already started in the forest. There are many 

 areas both in the old fields and in the cutover forest, where white pine 

 forms a large percentage of the stand, and in all such areas it is the 

 most valuable tree that can be grown. White pine does not bear seed 

 abundantly, but the seeds scatter a long distance, so that two or three 

 trees to the acre should be sufficient. 



