FOREST KESOUECES OF TENNESSEE. 483 



1845; and consequently no information is given concerning its land or 

 timber in any reports of the general government. These lands are no^ 

 in charge of the newly organized Dei)artmeut of Insurance, Statistics, 

 and History ; and in answer to inquiries for official information, the 

 commissioner replies that, in the absence of specific information concern- 

 ing the timber upon State lands, it may be said that the Eastern part of 

 Texas is well timbered with valuable pine, and other growths; the 

 middle and western portions are mostly prairie, with timber along the 

 streams and on the hills, and in the Southern portions live-oak occurs. 

 Trees where planted on the prairies in the vicinity of houses are growing 

 rapidly. 



TENNESSEE. 



In the report on the "Eesourcesof Tennessee," prepared by J. B. 

 Killebrew and Prof. J. M. Safford, the following timber-trees are men- 

 tioned as having commercial importance in that State: 



Ash (Fraxinus Americana and F. viridis). Formerly very plentiful in every part of the 

 State, but now growing scarce except in places remote from facilities for transpor- 

 tation. It grows best in the coves and north sides of mountains, and in the rich 

 lands of the Central Basin and West Tennessee, The largest trees are found in 

 Bedford County, where it is abundant. It bears transplanting well and is emi- 

 nently worthy of cultivation. As some pains are being taken to protect the 

 young walnuts that are springing up in open woodlands in the Central Basin, it 

 is hoped that the white ash, equally useful, will receive similar attention. The 

 green ash {F. viridis) is met with only along water-courses. The timber is excellent, 

 but not equal to the white. The water-ash (F.jj7ai^carpa) and red ash (i'.jputes 

 cens) are not so abundant. 



Beech {Fagus feruaginea). Common throughout the State in moist soils along streams. 

 The largest groves are found in Mason, Trousdale, Smith, Sumner, Cannon, Bed- 

 ford, and many other counties of the basin ; used in manufactures and for fuel. 



Birch (Betiila nigra). Found along the streams in East Tennessee, especially on Clinch 

 River. Riifts have been sent on that stream to Knoxville and Chattanooga and 

 sold at good prices. 



Buckeye {JEscuIus Jiava). On rich soils in many parts of the State, more especially in 

 the mountainous districts, where it is found 60 to 70 feet high and 3 feet in diam- 

 eter ; wood light, soft, porous, and not inclined to split ; used for troughs, bread- 

 trays, bowls, and shuttles. 



Red Cedar {Juniperm Tirginiana). Formerly very abundant in the Central Basin, in 

 belts or strips, on the glady-limestone. The supplies in Davidson, Williamson, 

 Sumner, and Rutherford nearly exhausted, and the best remaining are found in 

 Marshall, Wilson, Bedford, and Maury, covering about 300 square miles. More 

 than 700,000 feet are shipped annually to Saint Louis for fencing, and a large num- 

 ber of telegraph-poles go from Nashville. Bucket factories work up 5,000,000 feet 

 annually. The reproduction is slow and trifling. The price of $9 a cord has been 

 given for 5,000 cords for pavements in Pittsburg. Highly prized and much used 

 as fencing, being extremely durable. A roof of red-cedar shingles has been known 

 to last 60 years. In Marshall and Bedford Counties solid legs have been cut that 

 would square 24 inches for 30 feet. 



Chestnut (Castanea vesca). Abundant. Durable as rails, but not so durable for posts 

 as locust or cedar. Large forests are found on the ridges of East Tennessee, 

 on the sandstone soils of the Cumberland table-land, and in portions of the High- 

 land Rim, especially in Lawrence, Wayne, Hickman, and Perry Counti' s. 



Cherry (Prnnus aerotina). Loves a rich soil, and grows in every division of the State, 

 often to 70 or 80 feet. No extensive groves are found anywhere, but the trees 

 are usually scattered thinly through the forests on rich soils. 



Cottonwood {Popuhta heterophyUa). Confined to West Tennessee and the alluvial 

 bottoms of the Mississippi, growing to a great size. Chiefly used for fuel. 



Cypress (Taxodium distichum). In swamps along Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers in 

 considerable abundance, in isolated forests and rarely with other trees Used for 

 shingles and staves, and valuable for fencing and for hollow wares. 



Dogwood (Comxs florida.) On rich soils in every part of the State, never growing to 

 large size. Wood hard and valuable for many uses. 



Elm {i'lmns Americana, U.fulvu, and T'. alata). The first of these grows to large size 

 and is ornamental, lout the timbi-r not much used. The second (red or slippery 

 elm) is smaller (40 to 60 feet high and 1 to 2 feet diameter) and not as common ; 

 •wood coarser, stronger, and nsore durable. Tha third is etill emaller, with 

 tougher and heavier wood, and is more used for hubs of wheels. 



