196 THE FORESTS OF ST. MAKT'S COUXTT 



Owing to the scarcity of yellow poplar it is difficult to secure tracts 

 from which this timber can be cut profitably. On an average, 2 cords 

 may be expected from one acre of land where the soil is suitable for 

 this species. Tracts yielding less than this are seldom worked for pulp- 

 wood because of the inconvenience of getting it out of the forest. 

 Stumpage prices are usually high, and the trees are so widely scattered 

 that it hardly pays to cut tliem. The following items show the first 

 cost of a cord of yellow poplar pulpwood : 



Stumpage $ -90 to $1.10 



Cutting 1.40 " 1.60 



Hauling 1.40 " 1.60 



Total $3.70 " $4.30 



Contractors' prices to consumers are generally from $4.-50 to $4.T5 

 per cord, delivered at the landing. 



Veneers. — The manufacture of red gum veneer for fruit baskets 

 is constantly increasing, and the supplying of timber for this purpose 

 has become a staple industry in St. ilary's County. Eed gum timber 

 can be bought from owners for 50 cents per cord on the stump. The 

 cost of cutting and hauling is the same as that of yellow poplar, making 

 the total cost for one cord of red gum at the wharf about $3. .50. The 

 market price is about $4.00 per cord containing 1T3..33 cubic feet. Sticks 

 are cut 5 feet long with the bark removed. The cord measures 8 feet 

 long and 5 feet wide, by 4 feet and 4 inches in height. 



Telegraph Poles and Piles. — The available timber in this county 

 desirable for piles, telegraph and telephone poles is white oak, chestnut, 

 and loblolly pine. The demand and consumption of chestnut and 

 white oak ties has been so great, however, that very few poles and piles 

 have been cut from these species. Contractors for supplies of pole and 

 pile timber from this coimty are, therefore, largely restricted to loblolly 

 pine. Formerly, this pine could be bought rather cheaply in the southern 

 part of the county, but of late the price, owing to the demand for other 

 purposes, or for lumber, has increased so enormously as to prohibit the 

 purchase of this timber for piles and poles. Large areas of old fields 



