100 A STUDY OF FOREST CONDITIONS 



ably one-fourth of the timber was culled out or destroyed 

 years ago, and today these lands either still retain some 

 longleaf pine or have grown up to hardwoods and loblolly 

 pine. The remaining one-fourth of the original longleaf 

 pine is still uncut and will last probably from ten to fifteen 

 years. 



West of the center of the county the longleaf pine is 

 largely mixed with loblolly and shortleaf. The country is 

 rough and extremely hilly in places. Farming is carried 

 on extensively toward the western county line and in the 

 southwest. The northwestern portion extending into 

 Franklin County is heavily timbered with mixed pine and 

 some hardwoods. This is in the hands of large companies. 



There are over thirty small mills in the county cutting 

 lumber, mostly for local use. Some hardwoods are being 

 cut for foreign export. There is very little hardwood re- 

 maining in the county outside the northwest section. Tur- 

 pentining is carried on to some extent east of GiUsburg. 



On the longleaf uplands, areas cut over several years 

 ago, often containing 1,000 to 3,000 board feet of timber 

 per acre, can be bought for S5 per acre. Small mill owners 

 often buy these areas from the big companies. This county 

 is being rapidly stripped of its timber, and the largest 

 companies will cut their supply in a comparatively few 

 years. 



Tie cutting is general. In the east the ties are largely 

 disposed of to the Liberty White Railroad, and in the west 

 they are hauled to the line of the Ya?oo & Mississippi Val- 

 ley Railroad. Most of the county is accessible to one of 

 the other of these railroads. 



The county shows considerable interest in the care of 

 its school lands. Most of the timber on the sixteenth 

 sections was cut many years ago, when pine was consid- 

 ered valueless and its removal a benefit. These old cut- 

 tings are past redemption now, but where school timber 

 still remains it is being preserved. Three recent cases 

 are reported where the county has been reimbursed for 

 timber removed on rented lands. Eight townships in 

 this county are receiving money from their school lands. 



