8 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIOTS; OF THE 



for years to come shall not lie barren and unprodvictive, 

 but shall be covered with fast-growing trees. In this way 

 the land will improve in quality and will be a source of 

 revenue to its owners, to the counties, and to the State. 

 !(( In 1907 the State Geological Survey requested the 

 co-operation of the Forest Service in a study of the forest 

 resources of Mississippi. The examination was conducted 

 in the southwestern counties, in the longleaf pine region, 

 during November and December, 1907. Forest Service 

 Circular 149, ''Condition of Cut-over Longleaf Pine Lands 

 in Mississippi," was issued as a result of this examination. 



After the conference of Governors at the White House, 

 in May, 1908, the Forester of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture wrote to the Governors offering to co-oper- 

 ate in a preliminary examination of the forest resources 

 in their respective States. In response to this offer, Gov- 

 ernor Noel requested that a member of the Forest Service 

 be detailed to an examination of this kind in Mississippi, 

 and set aside the sum of $200 to cover in part the expense 

 of the work. The salary of the examiner and his traveling 

 expenses in excess of $200 were paid by the Forest Service. 



The examination on which this report is based was 

 made during October and November, 1909, and as much 

 detailed study was given to each region as the time would 

 allow. The data regarding forest industries and the mar- 

 ket conditions were obtained from county officials, lumber 

 men and private owners of timberland. Much information 

 was given by the State Geologist, Dr. E. N. Lowe, and 

 Professor G. L. Clothier, of the A. and M. College. Dr. 

 Eugene Hillgard's report on the geology and agriculture of 

 Mississippi was consulted for descriptions of the forest as 

 it existed before i860. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Geology and Topography. — With the exception of a small 

 area in the northeast comer, the entire State lies within 

 the coastal plain. The surface slopes gently southward 

 and westward from the Tennessee River hills and the 

 plateau region of the northern part of the State. 



