22 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE 



leaf pine in this locality. These species reproduce pro- 

 lifically on cut-over hardwood lands which are not subject 

 to long periods of overflow. 



The red uplands which were once farmed extensively 

 have in many places been abandoned because they have 

 been made worthless by erosion. The soil was originally 

 deep and mellow, and when carelessly cultivated on the 

 rolling surface has washed badly. Much of this abandoned 

 land is nearly barren. It ought to be devoted to the pro- 

 duction of valuable timber trees. Forest cover on this 

 land would not only stop further washing o" the soil, but 

 it would also heal the great gashes that have been cut in 

 the surface, and build up the soil so that, eventually, with 

 careful, scientific farming methods, parts of it might again 

 be used for agriculture. Furthermore, if devoted to tree 

 growth this land would be a source of timber supply for 

 local needs. Before a great many years the timber needed 

 on farms, which is now largely obtained from ; outhern 

 Mississippi, will become very expensive because of the 

 exhaustion of the supply in that region. This dearth in 

 the timber supply is nevitable, and will be keenly felt 

 within fifteen or twenty years. 



Planting. — ^With protection from careless and ruthless 

 burning of woodland through the enforcement of a suitable 

 forest fire law, it would doubtless prove financially bene- 

 ficial to plant rapid-growing and valuable trees on badly- 

 eroded hill lands. This can be done at a total cost of about 

 $io an acre. Planting is being carried on extensively in 

 several middle western vStates where timber is very scarce 

 . and expensive. In some States it has paid well to devote 

 small portions of the finest agrictiltural land to the raising 

 of tree crops. In Mississippi this is unnecessary, but it 

 will pay to plant lands which are worthless for agriculture 

 and where natural regeneration of valuable species is not 

 possible because of the absence of seed trees. 



4. The Flatwoods Region. — The Flatwoods region is a 

 narrow belt of level or slightly undulating country lying 

 west of the Pontotoc Ridge and the Black Prairie and east 

 of the hilly region of the North Central plateau. Its usual 



