DISTRIBUTION OP LONGLEAF PINE IN LOUISIANA. 



45 



these abandoued tiiiiber laads a yi)uiig pine is rarely seen, the seeds shed in the fall being apt 

 to rot in the water-soaked soil, or, if they happen to germinate, the seedlings are drowned (hiring 

 the winter rains. On the lands rising gently above the tlat woods, with the ridges still low and 

 wide and often more or less imperfectly drained, Longleaf Pine is fonnd of an exceedingly line 

 growth. The trees in the dense forest are tall and slender, and their timber is e(jualed only by 

 the timber of the same class growing in the valley of the ifeches Kiver, in Texas. 



The following measurements of five trees felled for test h)gs in the forests in the upper part 

 of Calcasieu Parish, between Hickory and Beckwith creeks, will serve as a fair representation of 

 the timber growth ou these low, broad ridges: 



Mcaxiiremeiits of fire trees. 



Upon 1 acre, selected ou the back of a low swell which might be said to represent the average 

 of the timber standing, 44 trees in all were counted. Of these, ','> trees measured 25 iuclies 

 diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 50 feet; 6 trees measured 23 

 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 50 feet; 19 trees 

 measured 18 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 40 feet; 

 14 trees measured 14 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 

 30 feet, corresponding in tlie aggregate to somewhat over 15, ()()(> feet, board measure. 



On another acre considered tirst class, rather level land, the soil fresh to wet tliroughout tlie 

 year, 72 trees were counted. Of this number, 14 were found 27 inches diameter at breast high, 

 with an estimated length of timber of 5(» feet; 5 were found 24 inches diameter at breast high, with 

 an estimated length of timber of 50 feet ; V-> were found 2.j inches diameter at breast high, with an 

 estimated length of timber of 50 feet; 8 were found 21 inches diameter at breast high, with 

 an estimated lengthof timl)er of 40 feet; ]0 Avere found 20 inches diameter at breast high, with an 

 estimated length of timber of 40 feet; 11 were found IS inches diameter nt breast high, with 

 an estimated length of timber of 40 feet; 1 1 were fonnd 18 inches diameter at breast high, with an 

 estimated length of timber of 30 feet. 



According to the.se flguies the timber standing on this acre would amount to not less than 

 35,000 feet, board measure. 



The chief site of the lumber industry of western Louisiana is at Lake Charles. According 

 to the infoimation furnished by Mr. George Lock, of Lockport, La., the annual output of the 

 sawmills in the vicinity of Lake Charles for the years 1892 and 189:5 averaged about 1.54,000,000 

 feet, board measure, all ship])ed West and Northwest. It can be assumed that over one-half of 

 the lumber sawn at Orange, in Texas, is cut on the eastern banks of the Sabine River, which 

 amount has to be credited to the cut of Louisiana. 



Siimmarii of the production of Lomjleaf Pine liimher iii. the State of Louisiana in lSi)2. 



Feet, B. M. 



Parishes east of the Mississipjii, about 25,000,000 



Parishes imrth of the Red River M, 000, 000 



To the .Sabine River, sawn at Lake Charles 154, 000, 000 



Sawu at Orange, Tex., estimated 10,000,000 



Total cut iQ Louisiaiia 275. 000, 000 



T-f.jrt.s.— The forests of Longleaf Pine extend from the Sabine west to the Trinity River and 

 from the grassy savannas of the coast region north to the center of Sabine, San Augustine, and 



