LONGLEAF PINE. 27 
thinning out of the stand by means of periodic turpentining of the 
trees to be removed in order to develop an open forest of large- 
topped, vigorous trees capable of being worked for turpentine re- 
peatedly over a period of 30 to 50 years or more. 7 
Beginning when the trees are 25 to 35 years old, the first step is the 
removal of the least desirable trees from the stand. These trees, 
perhaps one-third of the total number, are worked for turpentine 
under such a system of cupping as will give the maximum immediate 
financial returns to the operator. When the turpentine value of the 
tree is gone — probably after a working period of five years — they are 
cut and utilized. Following the working and cutting of the first 
lot of trees the remaining stand is again gone over at an age of 
30 to 40 years, and the largest trees are selected and designated to 
constitute the final stand. All other trees are marked for immediate 
and rapid working under the system of cupping used in the first 
thinning operation. After five or more years of operation these 
trees are cut and removed from the stand. This leaves the trees of 
the final stand which are to receive the conservative turpentine man- 
agement and from which the chief and sustained money yield of the 
forest is to be expected. 
The final stand consists of only the best trees — those stimulated 
by the previous thinnings to a state of development much in advance 
of trees of the same age, 35 to 45 years — in unthinned stands. They 
should be uniformly and widely spaced and stand 50 to 100 trees 
per acre. The final stand is now ready for systematic working over 
a period of 35 to 40 years. The trees are worked conservatively, 
regular intervals of 3 to 5 years being allowed for rest between the 
successive 7 or 8 year periods of working up a face. As the tree 
grows and the wounds heal, narrow faces may be worked between the 
old ones. At the end of the " rotation," when the trees are consid- 
ered mature, or at an age of about 80 years, they are heavily worked 
and then cut for lumber or other products. 
This system is quite similar to that in use by the French in tur- 
pentining their forests of maritime pine. 8 The results of five years' 
operation on the Florida National Forest indicate that no great dif- 
ficulty will be found in applying it generally to second-growth stands 
in this country. 
A modification of the above method, which is believed by some 
practical operators to be feasible and promising, follows more nearly 
the prevailing custom of turpentining in that the operation starts 
when the largest trees in the stand have attained sufficient size for 
7 Initiated by Mr. I. F. Eldredge,. forest inspector, and for about 10 years carried on 
under his direction. This applies to all of the turpentining operations on the Florida 
National Forest from 1907 to 1917. 
8 For brief description of the French method, see Farmers' Bulletin 1256, " Slash 
Pine." 
