PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE FOREST 

 CONDITIONS OF MISSISSIPPI. 



By C. E. Duxston, 

 Forest Examiner, Forest Service. "^^f^ 



• 'CAC 



INTRODUCTION. 



The rapidly diminishing timber supply of the Gulf 

 States, from which the bulk of the lumber-cut of the United 

 States is now derived, has begun to cause a general awak- 

 ening to the seriousness of the situation and an apprehen- 

 sion as to the future supply of timber needed for home 

 consumption in the region. At the present rate of cutting 

 the lumber industry in these States thirty years hence will 

 be conducted on a very small scale, unless every effort is 

 made to keep lands which are unsuited for agriculture fully 

 stocked with rapid-growing, valuable trees. 



The future wealth of Mississippi lies in agriculture. No 

 one can travel in the State and fail to be impressed with its 

 vast agricultural resources. The causes for its undeveloped 

 condition are many and complex, but an awakening is tak- 

 ing place and a vigorous spirit in favor of agricultural 

 development is apparent in all parts of the State. Forest 

 conservation is closely akin to conservation in agriculture. 

 The agricultural prosperity of a State or country is bound 

 up in the wise use of the soils. Just as certain soils and 

 certain situations are suited to various branches of agri- 



culture, so certain other soils and situations are suited to 

 oo 

 csl the less intensive use of land — forestry. 



' — Forestry does not necessarily mean the careful, pains- 



f^ taking methods applied in agriculture to the raising of 



crops. This comes later when the high value of wood 



'^^ crops makes it profitable. Forestry as needed at present 



_• in Mississippi is very simple. It means chiefly that the 



land not in cultivation and not likely to be in cultivation 



