The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-22

The yellow pines Of the Eastern and
Southern States are being cut at the
rate OF 13,oooOCo,oOO board-feet a year.
The total stands at the time is approx
mately 10000 OoO,oOO board-feet
One discouraging condition on cut-over
lands in the Southern States is the lack.
for various causes. Of adequate young
growth. Much Of the cut-over land has
grown Up 70 scrub oaks with very little
or widely scattered pine reproduction.
A realization Of these unfavorable con
ditions is becoming apparent all through
the South, and there Is a manifest inter
est IN reforesting such lands.
Successful renewal OF Southern pine
forest lands depends essentially upon con
servation numbering and adequate pro-
tsetion from FIRE. The problem Of FIRE
protection. however. Is both a serious
and a difficult one.
By Direct Seeding.
Reforestation OF Southern pine lands
can probably be effected by direct seed
ing. but such efforts would prove futile
unless the lands were protected against
fire. The forest service has made plans
for several private landowners and com
panles IN the South for direct sowing OF
pine seed on the permanent sites. Be
cause OF the more rapid growth OF lob
lOlly pine II is preferred where the soil
and moisture conditions are favorable.
The feasibility OF establishing lOblolly
pine plantations by sowing seed broad
cast. on prepared ground. has been de-
termired by experiments and by obser-
walton on the natural reseedIng OF this
tree on abandoned fields. The perpetual
ton OF iOblolly pine on sites suited 10
Il is therefore not a matter OF much
concern. But there are vast areas on
Longleaf pine seedlings grow very slow
ing longleaf pine is the only one that
will thrive Artificial regeneration OF
longieaf pine. either by sowing seed or
by transplanting seedlings. IS still IN the
experimental stage.
| Longleaf pine seedlings grow very slow
/ ~ in height for the first four 10 sir years.
but in meantime develop long. heshy tap
: roots. This habit OF growth makes il
very difficult 10 transplant them sue
/ cessfuily and makes some method OF
direct seeding necessary.
Planting Plan Worked Ont.
A planting plan for the lands OF the
Graniteville Manufacturing Company.
GraniteviIle. S. c.. has just been prepared
by the forest service The plan provides
for direct seeding OF Iobloly and longleaf
pines on about 500 acres. II recommends
that loblolly pine seed be sown broadcast
on the cleared lands which occur on the
( lower slopes.
Longleaf pine seed is 10 be planted on
pared about six feet apart each way. The
plan also includes detailed directions for
/ preparing the ground and sowing the
seed.
It 10 estimated that the cost OF plant
I ing viii be about $50 per acre for broad
( cast sowing OF loblolly pine and about
( S5.S5 per acre for seed spot planting OF
Y longleaf pine. A conservative estimate
/ of the time required 10 produce merchant
able crops. the yield OF each pine. and
I the total cost Of producing lumber per
/ thousand board-feet, compromising the
! initial investment at : per cent, are about
as follows:
I Loblolly pine. forty-year rotation. 1900
I bOard-feet per acre; cost per thousand
bOard-feet 1855.
LOngleaf pine, seventy-year rotation.
1900 board-feet per acre; cost per thou
sand board-feet 500.
Thus anything above 1856 for iohlolly
stumpage will be In excess OF per cent
compound interest on the investment It
Is also apparent that unless the stump
age value for longleaf pine advances con
siderably. plantations Of this pine viii
yield considerably less than a per cent
return. On the basis OF the estimate the
cost at 3 per cent compound interest
would be SAG per thousand board-feet