44 BULLETIN 244, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SCOTCH AND SHORTLEAF PINES. 
In a number of silvical features Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) and 
shortleaf pine appear to be quite similar. 
Both trees belong to the two-leaved group of pines x and form 
close stands made up of tall stems, free from branches for two-thirds 
of their length and terminating in short compact crowns. Both are 
vigorous and hardy growers and not subject to any markedly serious 
parasitic fungous disease. While both species are adapted to the 
drier type of soil occurring on the uplands, they differ in belonging 
characteristically to different zones of climate. Scotch pine does 
not require nearly so much heat during the summer and will endure 
much lower temperatures than shortleaf in winter. The seeds of 
both appear practically the same in size and general vigor, and both 
species are readily grown in the nursery. Shortleaf, however, regen- 
erates itself by sprouting from the stump, inherently possesses a 
much straighter stem, has smaller-sized branches, and cleans itself 
more quickly hi stands. Fully stocked stands of Scotch pine at any 
specified age contain a greater number of trees, although of smaller 
size than shortleaf pine indicating a somewhat greater degree of 
tolerance. 
All measurements of yield show considerably larger returns from 
shortleaf than from Scotch pine. The maximum average annual 
growth per acre of shortleaf pine on the best quality sites in North 
Carolina is 117 cubic feet at the age of 55 years; that of Scotch pine 
in Germany, about 90 cubic feet at 55 years. These maximum yields 
range downward on the poorest quality sites to 65 cubic feet at 80 
years for shortleaf pine and about 40 cubic feet for Scotch pine at 
65 years. Weise's table for Scotch pine is based upon 351 sample 
tracts located in 5 German States, while the shortleaf-pine table shows 
the results of only 80 sample tracts located in 14 counties in North 
Carolina. Table 19 shows several points of likeness and unlikeness 
in these two pines. The shortleaf data are not so representative of 
the species as that for Scotch pine. The German plots were all normal 
stands, last thinned just prior to the measurement, while the North 
Carolina shortleaf plots were average well-stocked natural untreated 
stands in old fields, thinned somewhat by the action of fires. Under 
these unlike conditions the results can not be fairly comparable, but 
may be taken as an indication of the character and possibilities of 
the two pines. 
In respect to height, shortleaf pine leads under all conditions of 
age and situation, but the difference is most marked during about 
the first 30 to 40 years, and on the poorer sites at all ages up to 80 
years. 
1 Shortleaf varies to three leaves in the bundle on the vigorous growing parts of the crown. 
