LIFE HISTORY OF SHORTLEAF PINE. 7 
SIZE, AGE, AND HABIT. 
Over much of its range the average height attained by shortleaf is 
between 80 and 100 feet, and in regions of better development 
between 100 and 120 feet, with a maximum of about 130 feet. Mature 
diameters of from 2 to 3 feet are most common; those of 4 feet are 
rare except in trees grown in the open. The tree commonly reaches 
an age of between 200 and 300 years, a maximum of about 400 years 
being occasionally attained. 
In size, shortleaf holds about middle ground between longleaf and 
loblolly pines. Loblolly grows to an equal height and a greater 
diameter, but is not so straight a tree. Longleaf averages a little 
higher, but has a somewhat smaller trunk at maturity. 
FORM. 
A long clear straight bole with small taper and short crown makes 
shortleaf pine almost an ideal tree for the saw. These characteristics 
are so much more pronounced in shortleaf than in several of its pine 
associates, for example, pitch, scrub, and loblolly pine, that they 
serve commonly as distinguishing marks. In early life the tree has 
a narrow pyramidal stem, which later becomes more cylindrical (Pis. 
I and II). Tables showing the form or taper of the stem, both out- 
side and inside the bark, will be found in a forthcoming bulletin on 
the importance and management of shortleaf pine. These include 
tables for North Carolina and Arkansas, showing inside bark meas- 
urements at intervals of 8.15 feet above a 1.5 foot stump for trees 
from 40 to 120 feet in height and of corresponding diameter classes. 
The tables are adapted for use in calculations of cubic volume of saw 
timber from 8 and 16 foot logs, allowing 0.3 foot additional length for 
each 16-foot log. The butt taper at 1-foot intervals of trees of vari- 
ous diameters is also shown, and there is a table of tapers outside the 
bark at 10-foot intervals above the ground for trees from 40 to 90 feet 
in height. 
CROWN AND BARE. 
A short crown composed of numerous small branches, forming a 
narrow pyramidal head, permits of the close density which charac- 
terizes shortleaf-pine stands. This inherent narrow crown habit is 
well shown in trees grown in the open, where it is conspicuous even 
to an advanced age. Although changes take place in the relative 
demand of the crown for light after the period of maximum height 
growth (about 50 to 70 years), the change in the general shape of the 
crown is slight. While the crown of longleaf in early life has about 
the same outline as shortleaf, though less dense, in later life it broadens 
out far more. Loblolly maintains a much wider and heavier crown 
at all periods of life than either of the other important southern 
pines. This habit is more pronounced on the drier soils; hence in 
