The Rural Voice, 2001-03, Page 50drought. insect infestations and
blister rust, thus ranking above all
other pines as a reforestation tree."
As well, the red pine will grow
with a tall, clear stem without any
attention other than thinning. The
branches. if shaded, die and fall off;
there is no need to prune them unless
the trees are in the open. Many
farmers planted a few acres of red
pines with the help of the Ministry.
Then, around 30 years ago, some
of the farmers discovered that,
although the trees had started out
strong and had indeed stopped the
soil erosion, their growth had slowed
and the plantations were not
producing the large trees they were
expecting. Red pines, to thrive,
require well -drained, sandy, acidic
soil to a depth of at least three feet. If
the soil conditions are not right, the
trees grow to a height of about 30
feet, stop growing and simply occupy
valuable land.
At about that time, many farmers
began planting Eastern white pines,
which are not only more valuable but
will grow in almost any type of soil
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46 THE RURAL VOICE
Andrew Grindlay
and with a minimum of light. They
also grow bigger than red pines, both
in height and in diameter. But since
white pines, unlike red pines, are not
self -pruning, even if shaded, there is
more work to be done to get
maximum value from them.
Those farmers who planted red
pines in the right kind of soil 40 or 50
years ago are now finding they can
get an attractive payoff from their
tree crop. On most plantations in
Southern Ontario red pines were
planted with a six feet by eight feet
spacing, which was close enough to
force them to grow straight and shed
their limbs but far enough apart to
allow them to get the full sun they
require. That spacing gave about 900
trees per acre, which,.though ideal
when the trees are young, is far too
many as the trees approach maturity.
They require much more room if they
are to increase in diameter rather that
in height.
Red pines mature at about 70
years of age. Farmers who have a red
pine plantation that was planted in
well -drained, acidic soil have learned
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that it is well worth while to put some
effort into managing the plantation to
prepare for the eventual harvest.
The first step is to do a row
thinning at 25 to 30 years of age,
taking out every fourth row of trees.
Next, identify the 150 or so crop trees
per acre — that is. those that are
straight and healthy, and remove the
others, a few every five years or so.
The crop trees, now about 16 feet
apart, will grow at an increased
annual growth rate; some experts say
that with this spacing, the diameter
growth rate will double, from about
1/4" per year to 1/2". More light will
reach the forest floor and the natural
regeneration of hardwoods will be
encouraged. As red pine wood is
readily penetrated by preservatives,
the thinnings make excellent
pressure -treated lumber and can often
be sold, provided the logs are about
10" or more in diameter.
There is good money to be made
from selling red pines as poles. A 16"
diameter tree that is straight and has
not too many knots should fetch
around $110. At 150 crop trees per
acre, over 70 years of growth, the
plantation should yield about $15,000
per acre from thinnings, small poles
and large poles. This works out to a
little over $200 per acre per year on
average. Mr. Kington urges farmers
to let the trees grow for another 10
years, in which case their value
should increase to about $20,000 per
acre. Not bad for marginal land with
practically no costs and no work
other than thinning.0
Andrew Grindlay farms 100 acres of
trees in Huron County.
'Vaunro S '
Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236
Providing advice and assistance with:
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber,
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodiot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
i