Evening journal., 1909-07-29
REFORESTATION
OF PINE LANDS
Forest Service Makes Plans
For Saving Trees in
South

WASHINGTON. d. c.. July 29.-The
yellow pines Of the Eastern and Southern
States are being cut at the rate OF 49,
o00,00O0OO board feet year. The total
stand at this time is approximately 400. .
o0O,0OOooO board feet
One discouraginE condition on cut-ov-
er lands in the Southern States is the
lack. for various causes. OF adequate
young growth. Much OF the cut-over land
has grown up to scrub oaks with very
little or widely scattered pine reproduc-
ton. A. realization OF these unfavorable
conditions is becoming apparent all
through the South. and there is a mani
fest interest in reforesting such lands.
Successful renewal OF southern pine for
est lands depends essentially upon con-
servative numbering and adequate pro-
lection from fire. The problem OF fire
protection, however is both a serious and
a difficult one.
Reforestation OF southern pine land can
probably be effected by direct seeding,
but such efforts would prove futile un-
less the lands were protected against fire.
The Forest Service has made plans for
several private landowners and compan-
les in the South for direct sowing OF
cause Of the more rapid growth OF lob
lolly pine It is preferred where the soil
and moisture conditions are favorable
The feasibility OF establishing lobolly pine
plantations by sowing seed broadcast on
prepared ground has been determined by
Experiments and by observation on the
natural receding Of this tree on abandon
ed fields The perpetuation of loblolly
- De- 81
a matter OF much concern. But there
are vast areas on which the less exact
ing but slower growing longleaf pine Is
the only one that will thrive. Artihcia
regeneration Of longleaf pine, either by
sowing seed or by transpanting seed
lines. is stin I'm the experimental stage
Longleaf pine seedlings grow very SLOWLY
I'm height for the first four to six years
but in the meantime develop long flesh!
taproots This habit of growth makes 4
very difficult to transplant them success
fully and makes some method of direc
seeding necessary.
A planting plan for the lands OF th
Granitevile Manufacturing Company
Graniteville. S. c.. has just been pre-
pared by the Forest Service. The plai
provides for direct seeding of loblolly an
longleaf pines on about 500 acres. It rec
ommends that loblolly pine seed be sowi
broadcast on the cleared lands which &C
cur on the lower slopes Longlesf pin
seed Is to be planted on the high sand
land in seeds spots. prepared about ST.
feet apart each way. The plan also in
oludes detailed directions for preparing
the ground and sowing the seed.
1t is estimated that the cost OF plantih
win he about $3.50 per acre for broad
cast sowing Of loblolly pine and abou
$685. pc racre for seed spot planting o
longleaf pine a conservative estimate O
of time required to produce merchant
able crops. the yield Of each pine and tn
total cost Of producing lumber per thous
and board feet. compounding the initie
investment at four per cent, are about a
follows:
Ioblolly pine. forty-year rotation, ~
o0o board feet per acre; cost per NJ bosr
feet, SS65
Iongleaf pine. seventy-year rotation
i7.Coo board feet per acre; cost per
board feet per acre; cost per NJ boar
board feet 1857
Thus anything above s3e5 for lobiol
stumpage will be in excess Of four p
cent. compound interest on the inves
ment II is also apparent that unle
the stumpage value for longleaf pine a
Ivances considerably, plantations of III
pine will yield considerably less than
four per cent. return. on the basis
the estimate the cost at three per Ger
p compound interest would be SL47 per
hoard feet