FOREST CONDITIONS OF MISSISSIPPI. 17 



operators. to buy it. If, however, there had been a greater 

 percentage of large, high-grade white oak on this tract, 

 the veneer company would probably have paid more for 

 the timber than heading, stave or lumber companies. It 

 would seem, therefore, to be well worth while for the own- 

 ers to inform themselves as to the grade of timber, in 

 order that they may dispose of it in the way which will 

 be most profitable. 



Owners of second-growth pine land should realize that 

 such land is a good investment, and that if it is given a 

 little judicious care the returns from it can be greatly 

 enhanced. Young stands of seedlings and saplings should 

 be as thick as possible. As they grow older many of the 

 weaker and suppressed trees will be killed out in the 

 struggle for sunlight, and the lower branches of the sur- 

 vivors will die and drop off, giving a long clear length for 

 lumber. When the trees are 20 to 30 feet tall a thinning, 

 which will take out the small-crowned and unhealthy ones, 

 will be of great benefit to those which are left. In this 

 way, by a small expenditure of labor a stand of second- 

 growth pine may be made to yield a high rate of interest 

 on a small investment. Second-growth pine lands are 

 held at values ranging from $2 to S5 per acre in this region. 

 Every effort should, of course, be exerted to keep fires out, 

 for even a light grass fire is apt to kill young seedlings. 

 There is a large number of portable mills and of mills 

 run in conjunction with cotton gins engaged in cutting 

 second-growth pine. They manufacture principally dimen- 

 sion material and planks, for which an average price of 

 -Si 2 per 1,000 board feet is obtained. Only sap lumber is 

 cut from old-field pine, and the grain is very coarse. Clear 

 boards are highly desirable for interior finish. 



At luka one lumberman has cut as much as 15,000 

 board feet per acre on tracts of old-field pine. He is now 

 cutting sawlogs from a tract which was n cultivation 

 thirt}'' years ago. Some tracts have been cut over three 

 times. Each cutting took out all the merchantable saw- 

 log trees. By the removal of these and the consequent 



