44 



YELLOW POPLAR IN TENNESSEE. 



Table 16 shows the cost of growing cordwood and the most profitable 

 age at which to cut cordwood in natural stands. The greatest profit per 

 acre, in addition to interest, is at 25 years, and amounts to $10.47 an acre. 

 The cost of growing timber at this age is only $1.45 a cord; much lower 

 than when the stand is either younger or older. 



TABLE 16. Second-growth yellozv poplar. Most profitable age for cut- 

 ting cordivood in unthinned natural stands, and the actual cost per 

 cord of growing it ivith natural reproduction. Cost of growing as 

 given in Table 14. 



Average conditions of growth. 



GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. 



Protection. It is necessary to protect from fire and cattle, areas which 

 are in process of stocking with yellow poplar, young stands, and planta- 

 tions of yellow poplar. This species is extremely sensitive to fire, par- 

 ticularly to early spring fire, until the bark becomes thick and rough. In 

 the case of large areas, as of cut-over land, patrol during spring and in 

 autumn until the newly fallen leaves are thoroughly compact and moist, 

 is the most effective method of preventing fires. It is sometimes possible, 

 particularly in the case of small tracts or single coves, to isolate by means 

 of fire lines, but these should never be exclusively relied upon. It is gen- 

 erally desirable to lop the under limbs of tops of felled trees in order to 

 bring the trunks in close contact with the soil and hasten their decay. Un- 

 less there is a large amount of pine or hemlock (spruce pine) slash, the 

 piling and burning of brush is not desirable, since it destroys humus. When 

 large tracts are being grazed, it is necessary either to herd cattle to pre- 



