Evening star., 1935-11-16
SOUTH NOT AFRAID
TIMBER WILL FAIL
Pine Association Sees Ample
Supply Despite Heavy
Drain for Years.

Although numbering has drawn upon
Southern forests for timber for a
great many years, there is no pros
pect that this important industry will
disappear in the South because OF a
scarcity of timber, according to a
statement just issued by the conserva-
tion department of the Southern Pine
Association, and announced through
its Washington Office. The statement
also asserts that plentiful supply
of Southern pine lumber to serve the
needs of future generations indefinitely
for home building and other conStruc-
ton purposes is assured.
1T is distinctly noticeable" the
statement mentions, that there is
no visible diminution of growing tim
Der in the Southern forests. Second
growth timber is replacing the old
virgin timber that was the white
mans heritage from the Indians, and
second-growth forests meet virtually
all of the lumber needs of today, as
the second-growth trees usually are
not cut until they are mature and
meet all requirements for manufacture
into lumber"
Forest Service Statistics.
United States Forest Service statistics
for 1880, cited by the conservation de-
partment, show that 80 per cent of
the forest area of the South Is in
merchantable saW-timber; % per cent
Is in cordwood-size timber; 20 per
cent Of the area is restocking with
young growth, and only % per cent
Of the area is not restocking. With
respect to the condition Of the South
ern pine area, which comprises rs
per cent of the total forest area OF
the South, figures taken from the
1880 survey of the United State;
Southern Forest Experiment Station
show that % per cent Of the pine
area is in merchantable saW-timber
% per cent in cordwood-size timber
80 per cent is restocking, and only
8 per cent is deforested. OF the totaI
annual growth Of saw-timber in the
entire United States, So per cent is ir
the South.
"The condition of Southern forests
particularly those of Southern yellow
pine, is such that there will be a sue,
cession of timber crops maturing az
needed" the statement continues
1.-THE area now in merchantable saw
timber will supply the lumber industry
during the period that the timber
now of cordwood size is growing tc
saW-log size, and when this timber
Is exhausted the areas now restocking
will have grown merchantable timber
after which logging can return to the
areas now being cut over, as under
planned forestry management adopted
by the manufacturers, they are being
left In condition to grow another
timber crop and are being protected
against fires.
Adaptable to Production.
"The South is fortunate that It's
forests are so adaptable to continuou:
production. Practically all species oi
Southern timber trees grow rapidly tt
merchantable size and quality, thi'
being particularly true with respect
to the Southern yellow pines, anc
with protection against fire, which
now Is generally given timber lands
in the South. and the adoption of Sc
lective cutting, and leaving of seed
trees, which now is becoming popular
with lumber manufacturers, there is
every reason to expect public and
private cooperation in timber grow
ing will perpetuate the Southern lum-
ber industry and insure an adequate
supply Of Southern pine lumber to
serve the requirements of present and
future generations indefinitely for
home building various other classes OF
construction and for industrial uses.