FOREST CONDITIONS OF MISSISSIPPI. 63 



cultural part of the State, but the silty soils of the uplands 

 have been worn out on extensive areas which could be 

 greatly improved by planting with forest trees. 



A few counties of the south central region contain a 

 great deal of virgin timber land, which is chiefly held by 

 large lumber companies. In the counties traversed b}' 

 the older railroads very little merchantable timber remains. 



The Yazoo delta is a country of exceedingly fertile 

 soils, and the original hardwood forest is being rapidly 

 cleared by large lumber companies to make way for farms. 



The great longleaf pine region, which was once covered 

 with unbroken pure pine forests over vast areas, is being 

 rapidly exploited by large lumber companies. The lum- 

 ber industry has probably reached its height, and its decline 

 will be almost as rapid as its rise. 



3. In all regions of the State the timber wealth is 

 being depleted at an astonishing rate. Little attempt has 

 been made to manage timber lands conservatively, and, 

 because of very frequent forest fires and clear cutting, only 

 a small amount of young tree growth is coming up to take 

 the place of the virgin stands on lands unfit for agriculture. 



4. The following problems of forest management are 

 of particular importance: forest fires, grazing, waste in 

 logging, turpentining, assessments and taxation of timber- 

 lands, and management of tax and school lands. 



The prevention of forest fires is by far the most impor- 

 tant measure to be considered in a State forest policy. 

 The general indifference to forest fires in the State is prob- 

 al)ly the chief cause for the extensive burning of the wood- 

 lands. This can be remedied through educational work 

 conducted by a forestry commission and a State Forester, 

 and through the enact:nent of wise forest fire laws. 



The chief injury to the forest in connection with graz- 

 ing is from the annual fires which are set for the supposed 

 improvement of pasturage. Hogs also do a great deal of 

 damage by digging up seedlings and eating tree seeds. 



There has been an enorinous amount of waste con- 

 nected with logging in Mississippi. This waste is of two 

 kinds; through sound material left in high stumps and 



