232 THE FORESTS OF PRINCE GEORGE S COUNTY 



rial. Where hardwood saplings occur, it is an indication that close 

 cutting has been practiced, especiallv in the cutting of cordwood, 

 resulting in a young sprout growth. The total area of this kind of 

 growth is 8,604 acres, or 7 per cent, of the total forest area. 



PINE SAPLINGS. 



Young stands of scrub pine, in which the average diameter of the 

 trees is under 4 inches, are designated as pine saplings. This class 

 comprises 6,975 acres, or 5 per cent, of the total woodland area. 

 The area of pine saplings in each district is a fair indication of the 

 amount of land formerly cultivated, but which has reverted to wood- 

 land within the past fifteen years. 



The stand and value of saw timber and pine cordwood is arranged 

 by districts in the accompanying tabular summary. 



The accompanying table shows a total stand of 107,842,000 feet, 

 board measure, of saw timber in the county, having a stumpage value 

 of $291,944. This includes all trees 10 inches and over in diameter 

 measured at breast height (or 41/0 feet from the ground), and is 

 equivalent to a diameter of 12 inches and over on the stump. 



The total stand of pine cordwood is 275,128 cords, representing a 

 stumpage value of $155,478. This includes all pine trees 4 inches 

 and over in diameter breast height (4I/2 feet from the ground) or 

 about 5 inches and over on the stump. The pine found in the county 

 is almost exclusively the scrub pine which seldom attains the size of 

 saw timber, and hence practically its entire use is for cord or pulp 

 wood. The stand is therefore expressed in cords. The value of the 

 stand if based on stumpage prices rather than on the market prices 

 of the delivered product, because the latter varies so with local con- 

 ditions of labor, transportation, nearness to shipping points, nnii-- 

 kets, etc. Under prevailing prices, however, it is estimated that 

 the total available supply of saw timber would represent a value of 

 $1,295,000 delivered at the nearest shipping point, and that of pine 

 cordwood would amount to $850,000, making a total of $2,100,000 

 as the value of the present merchantable stand, cut and delivered. 



The timber that would go into poles, piling, and railroad ties is 

 not separated from the saw timber in the estimation of the stand, 



