10 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE 



the form of rain, averages fifty inches, and is fairly well 

 distributed throughout the year. The heaviest rains occur 

 in January, February and March, when torrents cause a 

 great deal of erosion in the cultivated uplands and flood- 

 ing and filling of ditches in the lowlands. 



THE FOREST BY REGIONS. 



Eight forest regions are distinguishable in Mississippi, 

 corresponding more or less closely to the chief geological 

 subdivisions of the State. They are as follows: 



1. Northeastern hill region. 



2. Black Prairie region. 



3. Pontotoc Ridge region. 



4. Flatwoods region. 



5. North central plateau region. 



6. South central region. 



7. Yazoo Delta region. 



8. Longleaf pine region. 



Although in the discussion of the geological formation 

 of the great central plateau this whole area was considered 

 as one subdivision, on account of the covering of brown 

 loam which is found practically everywhere throughout 

 its extent, in the consideration of forest conditions it 

 seemed advisable to distinguish between the northern 

 plateau region and the country lying south of the Yalo- 

 busha River and north of the longleaf pine region because 

 of the wide difference in the economical development of 

 these two sections. The former was one of the first regions 

 to be extensively cultivated, while the latter still contains 

 vast areas of excellent timber lands. 



I. Northeastern Hill Region. — This region includes the 

 eastern portion of Alcorn and Prentiss Counties, the whole 

 of Tishomingo, nearly all of Itawamba, which lies east of 

 the prairie section, parts of eastern Monroe and Lowndes 

 and the northeastern corner of Noxubee. It is best 

 described under a number of subdivisions. 



Tennessee River Hills. — The eastern par of Tish- 



