LONGLEAF PINE. 29 
working. After being completely worked the trees are cut and re- 
moved, giving space for the accelerated growth of the remaining 
stand. In the working the trees are bled for about 4 years (with a 
relatively narrow face to a height of 6 feet), followed by a rest for 
about 3 years. This operation is then repeated twice with a new 
face each time, representing in all a working period of about 20 
years. If the age of the stand at the start was 30 years, it is now 
50 years old. The trees are now cut and utilized, and another 20- 
year working period begun, making use of the larger trees of the 
remaining stand. 
If the yearly burnings in connection with the turpentining de- 
stroys most of the young growth which starts, as seems likely, in 
order to secure a satisfactory reforestation of the tract, it may be 
necessary, in the case of either method of turpentining, to secure for- 
est regeneration by the artificial means of seed sowing or by plant- 
ing nursery -grown seedlings. 
Operating old-groicth timber on the Florida National Forest.— 
The regulations for turpentine operations on Government-owned tim- 
ber on the Florida National Forest will afford suggestions to private 
owners desiring to work or lease their timber, under methods of 
operation that aim to reduce the injury and waste and maintain the 
production of turpentine over a maximum period of years. The 
enforcement of these requirements has been no obstacle to success- 
ful forest management, but rather has proved to be a great help. 
Competition for turpentine rights is keen among operators, and in 
1919 the bids reached the high mark of $25.70 per 100 cups. 
Close observation and study of the best practice of turpentining 
has resulted in the regulation of 1 cup on trees measuring from 10 
to 15 inches, inclusive, in diameter ; 2 cups on trees 16 to 24 inches ; 
and not more than 3 cups on any tree. The location of the Forest 
in western Florida is in a region of deep, dry, sandy soil, where only 
longleaf pine and southern blackjack oak are able to maintain an 
existence and where the pine is mostly mature or slow growing. 
The timber, however, is worked for about 14 years out of a total 
of 15 to IT years. The procedure normally is about as follows, sub- 
ject to minor variations depending upon conditions : Virgin crop 
worked for 3 years, high-face 4 years (sometimes 3) ; a rest period 
usually of 3 years (minimum of one year) ; back-cupping carried on 
for 3 years, and high-face back-cutting for 3 or 4 years. The first 
working is sold, or if desired, the combined first and second work- 
ings together. After the rest interval the same practice of selling 
the rights is used in the back cuppings. The plan is to sell the tim- 
ber at the expiration of the working, which will be completed on a 
certain tract in about 5 years more, the present season being the 
eleventh since turpentine operations were begun. 
