24 



adaptability to the various soils and conditions under which 

 they will grow. 



In this state we find the cedar in definite areas in different 

 portions of the state, principally throughout the limestone 

 section, and in some instances in the districts having sand- 

 stone outcroppings. In these different districts the red cedar 

 first gained foothold on the protected sites with north and 

 northeast exposures, and since the trees have reached maturity 

 and produced seed they have gained a foothold on practically 

 all types of soil, and are now found growing abundantly over 

 the tops of many of our limestone hills, as well as in the deep 

 rich soil found in the bottom lands along the watercourses. 



It is a tree that is found growing in pure stand only in the 

 southern states, and grows vigorously either in pure stand or 

 in mixture with hardwoods. It is a highly tolerant tree dur- 

 ing youth, but demands full sunlight by the time it reaches 

 middle age. The foliage is very dense and will not permit of 

 underplanting. Being highly intolerant, the trees do not clear 

 themselves readily of limbs, and for this reason few clear 

 stems can be developed except in very donse stands. 



The green foliage of the cedar will burn as rapidly as the 

 dry leaves of any other species, and once stripped of its leaves 

 the tree will die. Little thinning will be necessary in a red- 

 cedar stand until the trees have reached pole size, when it will 

 be necessary to thin the trees in order to induce diameter 

 growth. The material removed in such a thinning will make 

 stakes and posts. The remaining trees will reach their finan- 

 cial maturity when between fifty and seventy-five years of 

 age. 



Yield. The ultimate product will be posts and poles. At 

 the present time it is impossible to buy red-cedar posts on our 

 local market excepting through special orders. A conserva- 

 tive estimate of the number of posts per acre at fifty years of 

 age will be from 3500 to 4000 posts per acre. This is estimat- 

 ing the final stand to be spaced at 10 by 15 feet, and estimat- 

 ing that each tree will cut 12 to 15 posts each, which is not 

 more than can be expected. At 20 cents per post this gives a 

 gross return of $700 or $800 per acre, equivalent to an annual 

 rental of $14 or $16 per acre. 



One great advantage in favor of the red cedar as a woodlot 

 tree in this state is that it is entirely adapted and suitable for 



