LONGLEAF PINE. 7 
Coastal Plain longleaf saplings at 5 years of age reach heights of 
2 to 3 feet and at 7 years of 5 to 8 feet. The occurrence of fires 
at frequent intervals, usually of about 2 years, in different sections 
over practically the entire longleaf pine belt, and the accompanying 
marked effect in checking growth should not be overlooked in any 
consideration of the rate of growth. 
Since the purpose here is chiefly to consider growth after the 
youngest or seedling stage, the germination of the seed and the 
early seedling development will be discussed under " Reforestation " 
in connection with getting young stands started. 
The period of vigorous growth, during which the longleaf sap- 
lings " shoot " up rapidly, begins at an age of about 5 years and 
continues to about 20 to 25 years. At about 7 years, the height of 
saplings sometimes increases 3 to 4 feet during a single year. A 
growth of 2 feet a year in well-stocked stands is common over large 
areas (fig. 2 and PL V.), and open-grown trees on average good 
situations not uncommonly grow from 2 to 3 feet yearly. At the 
same time, the young trees grow to a diameter (at the ground) of 
about 2 inches during the 2 to 4 years following the early prepara- 
tory stage. Varying widely, longleaf saplings require 6 to 8 years 
on an average to reach breast height, or 4|. feet above the ground. 
After the maximum rate of height growth, at an age prior to 20 
years, the rate gradually diminishes. It should, however, be clearly 
understood that young longleaf pine trees, subjected to hot fires, 
do not grow at the rates indicated. On protected old fields in the 
flatwoods of eastern North Carolina, measurements of longleaf pines 
show that in 35 to 50 years the average trees produce saw logs 14 
to 20 inches at the butt and 20 feet in length.* The usefulness of 
these pine trees, however, would begin a little earlier if they were 
turpentined, and the thinning out of the foliage would also en- 
courage the incoming of the tender grasses which are valuable for 
pasturage. This may be considered as about the average of the bet- 
ter growth to be expected throughout the longleaf pine region. The 
soil conditions on old fields are favorable, probably because of 
changes taking place in the hardpan layer. 1 
The most useful information regarding the rate of growth is 
obtained by measuring the amount of growth actually taking place 
in stands approximately even-aged and fairly well stocked. The 
trees in such stands grow tall, straight, and clean of branches, but 
relatively slow in diameter (PL IV). At any given age, therefore, 
the average trees in well-stocked stands will be considerably smaller 
*By W. W. Ashe, formerly in charge of investigations,, North Carolina Geological 
Survey. 
1 Studies by J. O. Veatch, Bureau of Soils, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
