6 YELLOW POPLAR IN TENNESSEE. 



feet. While this decline in cut will continue for some time it is possible, 

 by protecting and managing the young growth, to have it replace the old 

 timber, and in this manner to maintain a continuous, though undoubtedly 

 reduced, output of this valuable lumber. 



The greater and more valuable portion of the cut of yellow poplar is 

 the product of old timber. In order that the lumber may average $28 

 per 1,000 board feet, the trees from which this lumber is sawed must have, 

 at present prices of lumber, an average diameter of 27 inches, breast-high. 

 Although the amount of young timber which is cut for commercial pur- 

 poses is small, it has a standard and rapidly increasing value for saw 

 timber. With the continued reduction in the supply of old timber, the 

 second growth must become the chief source of future supply. And con- 

 sequently it is extremely important to know something of the amount of 

 young growth and its probable future price. It is also desirable to know 

 the rate of growth of the young timber, the possible profit in growing it, 

 and the best methods of management for accelerating its growth and in- 

 creasing its value. 



The results of an investigation in Tennessee show that yellow poplar 

 has a comparatively rapid rate of growth while young ; it seeds abundantly 

 and reproduces freely on suitable sites, forming either pure groups or a 

 considerable proportion of mixed seedling stands. On account of its soft, 

 white wood, which is very free from large knots, it is merchantable even 

 when of small diameter, while on account of its straight stem with only 

 moderate taper it yields under the saw as large a proportion of lumber 

 per cubic feet of total volume as do the pines. On account of its intoler- 

 ance of shade its yield per acre is less than that of chestnut and some of 

 the pines, but this is offset by the rapid growth of the individual tree and 

 its vigorous response to thinnings. On the whole, no other species of 

 tree which has a wide distribution in Tennessee offers such excellent in- 

 ducements for the protection of small trees, and even for propagation 

 and planting. Not only is there an assured and remunerative market for 

 the timber of small sized trees but its rate of growth is so rapid that re- 

 turns are obtained at an early period for a forest tree. Second growth 

 trees are largely "sapwood" or "white poplar," but there is now no dis- 

 crimination against lumber from this grade of timber, and the clear sap 

 lumber at present commands a higher price than the best yellow heart- 

 wood did 20 years ago. 



Yellow poplar is also extensively used in Tennessee for wood pulp for 

 the manufacture of paper. While some wood from the limbs of large 

 trees which are cut for saw timber goes into this product the greater por- 

 tion of it comes from young trees of pole size the white wood of which 

 renders such trees very desirable. 



