66 FORESTS AND MANKIND 



several hundred other species. This central forest contains more 

 different kinds of trees than any other in North America. 

 A few pines grow here, sometimes in pure stands, but 

 usually mixed in among the hardwoods. Shortleaf pine is the 

 most important conifer in this forest. Several pitch pines 

 also occur and red cedar, but the great distinguishing fea- 

 ture of this central region lies in its being a forest of hard- 

 woods, for all the other forest areas are regions either of 

 pure softwoods, or of softwoods with a scattering mixture of 

 hardwoods. 



Of this region, not more than five per cent of the original 

 forest now exists. A great deal has been cleared for farm land, 

 for it contains some of the most fertile and well-watered soil 

 in the United States. The forests that still remain have been cut 

 over so often for the best timber that only the poorer material 

 remains. 



Southern Forest: 



This is a forest of yellow pine. By far the most important are 

 longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and shortleaf pine forming pure 

 stands over wide areas. These three pines have made the south- 

 ern states one of the greatest timber producing regions of the 

 world. They not only provide valuable timber, but, from their 

 resin are extracted turpentine and rosin. 



Hardwoods occur among the pine, but they are of secondary 

 importance. Where lands are flooded part of the year cypress 

 and tupelo grow both valuable trees. The forests of this re- 

 gion have suffered heavily both from lumbering and fire and 

 today in twenty-five per cent of this area, natural regeneration 

 of valuable trees is prevented by frequent forest fires and the 



