The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-30
YELLOW PINE FORESTS
RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING

WASHINGTON, July 30.-The yell
low pines of the Eastern and South
ern states are being cut at the arte
of 1900. 100000 board feet year.
The total stand at this time is ap-
proximately 400 OOO,00O,OO0 board feet.
One discouraging condition on cut
over lands in the Southern states is
the lack. for various causes, of adj
equate young growth. Much of the
cut-over land has grown up to scrub
oaks with very little or widely scatter
ed pine reproduction. A realization
of these unfavorable conditions is be-
coming apparent all through the South
and there is a manifest interest in
reforesting such lands.
Successful renewal of southern pine
forest lands depends essentially upon
conservative numbering and adequate
protection from fire. The problem of
fire protection however, is both SER
ious and difficult one.
Reforestation of southern pine lands
can probably be effected by direct
seeding. but such efforts would prove
futile unless the lands were protected
against fire. The Forest Service has
made plans for several private land
owners and companies in the South
for direct sowing of pine seed on the
permanent sites. Because of the more
rapid growth of lobolly pine it is pre-
ferred where the soil and moisture
conditions are favorable. The feast
bility of establishing lobolly pine
plantations by sowing seed broadcast,
on prepared ground, has been deter.
mined by experiments and by observa
: ton on the natural reseeding Of this
: tree on abandoned fields. The per-
. petuation of lobolly pine on sites suit
ed to it is therefore not a matter of
much concern. But there are vast
areas on which the less eXacting but
slower growing longleaf pine is the
only one that will thrive.
Artificial regeneration of longleat
pine either by sowing seed or by
transplanting the seedlings, is still
|. in the experimental stage. Longlea
|, pine seedlings grow very slowly il
l. height for the first four to six years
but in the meantime develop long
l. fleshy taproots. This habit of growtl
n makes it very difficult to transplan
T. them successfully and makes som
k method Of direct seeding necessary.
A planting plan for the lands of tn
Graniteville Manufacturing Compan
n. Graniteville S. c., has just been PR
n. pared by the Forrest Service. II
plan provides for direct seeding
H. lobloIly and longleaf pines on abo'
M 500 acres. 1t recommends that 10
re lollv pine seed be sown broadcast
the cleared lands which occur on Il
lower slopes Longleaf pine seed
to be planted on the high sandy lar
in seeds spots, prepared about S
feet apart each way. The plan also
cludes detailed directions TO rprepa
/ ing the ground and sowing the seed.
y If is estimated that the cost of pla1
! ing will be about $3.50 per acre +
| broadcast sowing of loblolly pine al
about $685. per acre for seed sp
planting of longleaf pine. A consery
tive estimate of the time required
produce merchantable crops, the vie
- of each pine and the total cost of pl
ducing lumber per thousand boa
feet, compromising the initial inve
ment at four per cent are about
follows;
, Loblolly pine, forty-year rotate
$4,000 board feet per acre; cost 7
N board feet. 1856.
Longleaf pine. seventy-year no
ton. 1900 board feet per acre; q
per M board feet. s9.67.
Thus anything above 1855 for
holly stumpage will be in excess