FOREST CONDITIONS OF MISSISSIPPI. 57 



In the mature longleaf forest the proportion of trees smaller 

 than this diameter is very small, so that the tracts are cut 

 practically clear. Clear cutting is advisable when land has 

 a high value for farm use, but in sections where there is 

 little or no prospect of selling stump lands because of the 

 rough surface or poor soil, the policy of clear cutting is 

 unwise. Small trees are generally utilized at little profit, 

 and often at a loss, because of the high expense of handling 

 them as compared with the value of the small amount of 

 lumber they contain. Moreover, there is a smaller per- 

 centage of the better grades of lumber in small trees 

 than in large ones. By raising the minimum diameter 

 limit to about 15 inches on tracts which are not salable 

 for farms, as a nile from 1,000 to 2,000 board feet 

 would be left standing on each acre. With fire protection 

 these trees would seed up the ground and would themselves 

 form the basis for future logging operations. With the 

 admission of a great deal of sunlight by the removal of the 

 greater part of the stand the growth of the trees left would 

 be greatly accelerated. The inevitably large increase in 

 stumpage values which will accompany the exhaustion of 

 the greater part of the timber in the region will assure 

 owners of land of this character a good profit on their in- 

 vestment. 



2. The species to be encouraged should be those which 

 combine to the greatest degree the quality of valuable 

 material and the silvicultural properties of successful re- 

 generation on cut-over lands, and rapid growth. In the 

 bottom-land forests the valuable oaks, yellow poplar, white 

 ash, hickories, and cypress should be favored as against 

 the gums, beech, maple, and sycamore. Loblolly pine 

 combines to a remarkable degree the qualities desirable in 

 forest management. It is found in most parts of the State 

 and is especially desirable as a tree crop in central Missis- 

 sippi. It should be encouraged on cut-over longleaf lands 

 as well as in the moist situations near streams. 



For the first few years of seedling growth after logging, 

 the only measure needed in management is fire protection . 

 In the sapling stage most stands are dense. Close stands 



