42 FOREST RESOURCES; PRINCIPAL TREES AND REGIONS 



moved a very large portion of the once rich and varied forests of the 

 region lying mainly east of the Mississippi River. In spite of the 

 large areas devoted to forests in the Southeast, those states contain 

 only 12% of the saw timber, but they possess an important and 

 rapid growing second-growth forest which has great possibilities for 

 the future. 



Practically no hardwoods of large commercial importance are 

 found in the Rocky Mountain or Pacific Coast States. 



Character of Growth. Of the total stand of softwoods, 86% is of 

 virgin or old growth, the large majority of which is found in the 

 Pacific Coast States as noted above. Only about one-third of the 

 hardwoods is of old or virgin growth and they are found largely in 

 the Southeastern states with relatively small portions in the Lake 

 States, New England, and Central States. 



5. LEADING COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



The leading species found in the saw-timber forests of the country 

 are as follows: 



Altogether about 60 commercially prominent species are found in 

 the lumber markets of this country. Two species, Douglas fir and 

 ponderosa pine, comprise nearly one-half (46.9%) of all the standing 

 timber. Many kinds of wood formerly regarded as of little value or 

 even worthless have entered the lumber markets within recent years. 

 Among these now assuming some prominence which formerly were 

 considered either of inferior quality, rather difficult to season, or suf- 

 fering by comparison with other valuable species, are western hem- 

 lock, tupelo and black gum, western larch, and even red gum and 

 beech. Most of these woods have important intrinsic values and are 

 now more favorably regarded in the lumber markets. Some of the 



