46 
BULLETIN 1061, U 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
wind firm; in favorable situations they will increase rapidly in size 
after the logging of the other trees. A woodsman can readily 
learn to recognize such trees, and they should be chosen and marked 
by paint or other means prior to logging. If all slash is cleared 
away from the trees, and proper protection from fire is provided, 
within periods of 5 to 15 years the seed trees should provide ample 
young growth and be of enough value to pay all costs and a fair 
rate of interest on the total investment. (PL XL) The prob- 
able value of the young-pine stand by the twentieth year should be 
sufficient to offset and justify the whole cost of producing the 
trees, including the holding of the land. In general, seed trees of 
the right kind should cause no loss but rather prove to be a good 
investment. 
A seed-tree lav:— As a step in the development of sound forest 
principles, the State of Louisiana in 1920 enacted a seed-tree law. 
It is required that at least one seed tree per acre be left on lands 
If cut-over lands have been properly logged, and if 
seed trees have been left in the operation and have 
been given adequate fire protection, the lands will 
become reforested naturally, and the planting of 
seed will not be necessary. 
There are many millions of acres of southern pine 
lands which have been cut so heavily or burned over 
so often and so completely that they can not become 
restocked naturally, and will therefore lie idle unless 
they are artificially reforested by the sowing of seed 
or the planting of seedlings. 
If these lands were restored to timber production 
and w T ere given adequate fire protection they would 
produce yearly from 100 to 700 board feet per acre 
of longleaf pine. 
cut by any individual or company, unless such land is agricultural 
in character and will be used for that purpose. A seed tree has 
since been defined as a " sound tree of well-developed crown and 
not less than 8 inches in diameter at '2 feet above the ground." The 
law covers just about the minimum requirement in this respect. It 
is better if at least three to five such trees per acre are left. The 
purpose of the law is to prevent complete denudation of forest land 
and yet work no hardship upon the owners. Some chance, at least, 
will be afforded of cut-over lands being reforested naturally instead 
of remaining idle unless they are restocked by artificial seeding or 
planting (PL XII). 
Example of leaving seed trees. — On its own initiative a large lum- 
ber company in southeastern Louisiana is going further than is re- 
quired by law. and is leaving and protecting practically all small 
trees. The skidding crews are required to save as many small trees 
as they can and to throw all slash from the bases of these trees. A 
considerable space around the trees is raked. In addition to relying 
