OF SOUTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI. 101 



Wilkinson County. — Wilkinson County, with an area of 

 a little more than 400,000 acres, occupies the extreme 

 southwestern comer of the State. It is essentially an 

 agricultural county, 63 per cent of the land being listed as 

 cleared. All types but the pure longleaf, which does not 

 extend as far west as this county, are represented. The 

 longleaf hills type covers the northeast comer of the county 

 north of Buffalo bayou . The stand on this type averages 

 5,000 to 7,000 feet per acre. The soil is not as fertile as 

 that in the other parts of the county, and the hills, though 

 short, are steep and liable to wash, so that the greater 

 part of this area is more suitable for forest gro^vth than 

 for any other purpose. Longleaf pine is the principal 

 timber tree, though in some areas, especially near the 

 railroad on the eastern boundary, most of this species has 

 been cut out, leaving loblolly and some shortleaf the pre- 

 dominating trees. Where fire has not passed over the 

 ground lately, the reproduction of loblolly and shortleaf 

 is excellent, and on some old cuttings longleaf also is re- 

 producing very satisfactorily. It is probable, therefore, 

 that with careful management no trouble would be exper- 

 ienced in keeping any part of this corner of the county in a 

 permanently producing forest. 



The greater part of the county is covered with the 

 hardwood hills type. In the western half of the county 

 the hardwoods are in almost pure stands, while in the 

 eastern part they are mixed with loblolly and some short - 

 leaf pine. The land produces excellent crops of cotton, so 

 that only the steep slopes from which the soil will wash 

 away, if cleared, should be kept in permanent forest growth. 

 The trees to be encouraged are yellow poplar, ash, hickory, 

 and sweet gum. 



On the Mississippi flood plain, and on the river and 

 creek bottoms, the only land more suitable for forest growth 

 than for agriculture is that which is too wet to cultivate. 

 It will eventually be drained and put to its highest use, 

 but in the meantime it should be kept in forest and the 

 young growth protected when the mature timber is cut. 



Lumbering has not been carried on extensively in Wil- 



