OF SOUTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI. 103 



A considerable amount of this type has been cultivated 

 and many of the forests culled of their best timber. At 

 present 2*^,000 acres along the Homochitto River are being 

 drained for cultivation. Approximately 132,000 acres, or 

 half the area of the county, is listed as cleared land. The 

 uncleared land is confined to the eastern hills and the 

 river bottoms. The assessment of the best agricultural 

 land is sometimes as high as $33 per acre, with an average 

 of $10. The uncleared land ranges from 50 cents to $7, 

 with an average of about $5. 



The timber of the hills type is mostly owned by a few 

 companies, two of which are about to begin extensive 

 operations. The merchantable trees, both hardwoods and 

 pines, average about 5,000 board feet per acre. Repro- 

 duction is excellent, both of pine and hardwoods. Lum- 

 bering is being carried on in the Homochitto and Missis- 

 sippi bottomlands. About 85,000 board feet of cottonwood 

 lumber are being cut daily by small miUs along the Mis- 

 sissippi, besides about 60,000 board feet of logs which are 

 taken from the Homochitto region and rafted to Louisiana. 

 Cypress and gum are also being lumbered from the bot- 

 toms. The growth of cottonwood is extremely rapid, 

 and the tree reaches merchantable size in from 15 to 25 

 years. Many cottonwood stands will cut from 12,000 

 to 25,000 board feet per acre. Natchez is the great center 

 of export for most products, and the Mississippi River 

 offers the cheapest outlet for lumber. The Mississippi 

 Central Railroad, when completed, will facilitate export 

 through the center of the county. 



It is estimated that 85 per cent of the swamp lands 

 are still uncleared, though it is probable that all eventually 

 will be cleared for agriculture. The steepest parts of the 

 hill section are absolute forest land, being too steep ever 

 to become available extensively for farming. The re- 

 mainder of the county will always be more valuable for 

 agricultural purposes. 



Jefferson County. — Except for the extreme southeastern 

 part, Jefferson County is agricultural, and a large part of 

 it is under cultivation. A high, somewhat broken pla- 



