Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-07
1a,oge,ao0;aoD Board
Feet AleCut Each Year.
Plans Being Made for RslDrsst-
Ing the Pine Lands.
LsblaIIy Pine Seed to Be sown
Broadcast on Cleared Land.

Washington, Aug. 5.-tSpeciaD.-The
yellow pines of the Eastern and South
eril states are being cut at the rate of
l3,0W.O0O.900 board feet a year. The
total stand at that time is approximate
ly 400, 00O, 900 900 board feet
One discouraging condition on cut
over lands in the Southern States is
the lack, for various causes, of ade-
quate young growth. Much of the cut
over land has grown up 10 scrub oaks
with very little or widely scattered
pine reproduction. A realization Of
these unfavorable conditions is becom-
ing apparent all through the South
and there is manifest interest in re-
fOresting 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 seri-
Gus and a difficult one.
Reforestation of southern pine lands
can probably be effected by direct seed
ing, but such efforts would prove flu
tile unless the lands were protected
against fire. The Forest Service has
made plans for several private land
rect sowing of pine seed on the per-
nent sites. Because of the more
NJ growth Of loblolly pine it is pre-
Z s1ed where the soil and moisture con-
Enitfons are favorable. The feasibility
Of establishing loblolly pine plantations
by sowing seed broadcast, on prepared
ground, has been determined by eXper-
iments and by observation on the nat
yru1 ~ .r l.
dOned fields. The perpetuation of lob
Jolly pine on sites suited to it is there
fore not 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 longleaf pine,
either by sowing seed or by transplant
ing seedlings, is still in the experiment
tai stage. Longleaf pine seedlings
grow very slowly in height for the first
four to six years. but in the meantime
develop long, fieshy taproots. This
habit of growth makes it very difficult
to transplant them successfully and
makes some method of direct seeding
necessary.
A planting plan for the lands of the
GranitevilIe Manufacturing Company,
Grapiteville. S. c., has just been pre-
pared by the Forest Service. The plan
provides for direct seeding of lObolly
and longleaf pines on about 500 acres
1t recommends that loblolly pine seed
be sown broadcast on the cleared lands
which occur Oh the lower slopes. Long
leaf pine seed is to be planted on the
high sandy land in seeds spots, pre-
pared about six feet apart each way.
The plan also includes detailed drec-
tons for preparing the ground and
sowing the seed.
1t is estimated that the cost of plant
ing will he about $3.50 per acre for
broadcast sowing of loblolly pine and
about $685. per acre for seed spot plant
ing of longleaf pine. A conservative
estimate of the time required to pro-
duce rnerchantable crops. the yield OF
each pine and the total cost of produce
ing lumber. per thousand board feet,
compromising the initial investment at
four per cent. are about as follows:
LobiOlly pine. forty-year rotation,
10000 board feet per acre; cost per NJ
board feet. s3.c5.
LOngleaf pine. seventy-year rotation,
1900 board feet per acre; cost per M.
board feet, 1857.
Thus anything above 1855 for lOblolly
stumpage will he in excess Of four per
cent. compound interest on the invest
ment. 1t is also apparent that unless
the stumpage value for longleaf pine
advances considerably. plantations of
tris pine will yield considerably less
than four per cent. return. On the ba-
sis of the estimate the cost at three
per cent. compound interest would be
$4.a7 per NJ board feet.
CONVENTION OF ORGANISMS.