38 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



but uncleuiabl.y tbey have a longer lease of life than those in any 

 other section of hardwoocl growth in the United States. 



The original timber area tributary to Memphis, extending Ihrough 

 southern Missouri, Arkansas, western Tennessee, Mississippi aini 

 Louisiana, making up the great lower Mississippi valley, includes 

 within its limits approximately 125,000 square miles or 80,000,000 

 acres. Figuring on a conservative basis there still remains uncut 

 the virgin growth on fully one-fourth of this total, or 20,000,000 

 acres. Estimating further on a conservative basis of 7,000 feet of 

 merchantable timber to the acre, there still remains tributary to 

 Memphis 140,000,000,000 feet of hardwood stumpage. 



This stumpage consists of sundry varieties of red and white oak, 

 most of which is of very high economic value ; red gum and cotton- 

 wood of magnificent quality and large size, and exceptionally fine ash, 

 hickory and cypress. Intermingled mth this growth are several types 

 of elm, tupelo, black gum and magnolia and a few other varieties of 

 minor value. 



Of first importance as timber trees it is well to consider the 

 different varieties of white oak found in the Memphis district. 



White Oak 



While there are in all about five merchantable varieties of the white 

 oak growing in the great Mississippi valley section, Quercus 



TVl'K IIF WHITE 0.\K GUOWTII OF MEMPHIS DISTRICT 



Michanxii, the cow or basket oak, is so pre-eminently the white oak 

 of this region that it can be cited as the typical species. It is from 

 this tree that a large majority of the finer grades of lumber are pro- 

 duced, and while the other varieties, such as forked-leaf white oak 

 and three or four other common species, are manufactured to a con- 

 siderable extent, they are not commercially separated from the cow 

 oak. This tree is found at its best in wet, swampy localities, where 

 it grows, accompanied by water hickory, swamp bay, water elm, 

 water oak, gum and maple. The general appearance of the tree 

 gives one an immediate impression of massiveness and strength, off- 

 set by the delicate silvery effect of the bark and the lining of the 

 foliage. It often attains a height of a hundred feet and a diameter 

 of fully seven feet. The characteristic feature of the tree is the 

 light gray, scaly bark, covering trunk and heavy limbs, which rise at 

 narrow angles. The leaves have a heavy texture and are dark and 

 lustrous. 



As a tiral)er tree, the basket oak probalily ranks .second to none 

 of the merchantable oaks of the country, producing wood which is 

 suitable in every way to the many uses for which the true white 

 oak is so favorably adapted. The great strength and durability of 

 this timber, together with its hard, heavy and compact structure, 

 render it especially suitable for all kinds of cabinet and general 

 manufacturing utiiizarion where the ability to stay where it is put 

 and to take a high polish and show an attractive grain are required. 

 In color the heart is light brown, while the sapwood is thin and 

 darker. The cow oak is probably shown to its best advantage in 

 plain sawing or veneering, as when it is quarter-sawn the large and 

 scattered medullary rays give the surface a more or less blotchy 

 appearance. The moist conditions of its preferred habitat give the 

 tree wide annual rings and large spring ducts, which render it tough 

 and easily split, as the layers separate readily. On account of this 

 property the wood is largely utilized in the manufacture of baskets, 

 for w-hich it is unsurpassed; hence the common name, basket oak. 

 Its use for ties, poles, construction timber, cooperage, wheel stock 

 and fencing is extensive, owing to the favorable physical qualities it 

 possesses, and it is equally as popular for all sorts of interior work, 

 furniture and for agricultural implements. 



Botanically this tree is one of the group of chestnut oaks, of 

 which there are three others. These trees are so called because of 

 the similarity of the leaves to those of the chestnut, the chief point 

 of difference being in the lobes. All four come under the broader 

 heading, white oak, and produce lumber of excellent quality. 



Red Oak 



If one could climb to a point of vantage in this country there 

 could be seen towering above the tops of the surrounding flora 

 numerous great oak trees. Closer investigation would reveal these 



