62 Forest Club Annual 



soils of the prairie states the soil of this region has a surpris- 

 ing fertility. Areas which are covered with stones from 1 inch 

 to 3 inches in diameter, and which appear little better than 

 rock piles yield fair crops of cane and corn when properly 

 cultivated, and the sandy soils along the streams yield good 

 crops of cotton. 



TYPES. 



The diversity of soil and moisture conditions and of ele- 

 vation and exposure causes a great variation in the forest 

 growth both as to distribution of species and the develop- 

 ment of the individual trees. It is not possible to divide the 

 area into distinct and separate forest types but there may be 

 a rough classification according to site and the distribution 

 and development of species into Ridge Type, Slope Type and 

 Gulch Type (or Valley Type). There is no distinct line of 

 division between any of these types, each grading insensibly 

 into the other -and differing from the adjoining only in the 

 number of species represented or the better development of 

 the individual trees of the same species. 



The Ridge Type is that portion of the area represented 

 by the tops of ridges and the upper portion of the slopes. 

 The dry sandy more or less rocky soil contains practically 

 no humus and is in general the least fertile soil of the region. 

 The forest growth of this type is composed of the following 

 species listed approximately according to their abundance : 



White Oak (Quercus alba) 



Black Oak (Quercus velutina) 



Hickory (mostly Hicoria glabra) 



Post Oak Quercus minor) 



Black Jack (Quercus marilandica) 



Shortleaf Pine Pinus echinata) 



Hickory (Hicoria villosa) 



Sassafras (Sassafras sassafras). 



As a rule, the stands are open with the larger trees form- 

 ing the major portion of the stand. The older trees are 

 mature and are deteriorating. Many are stag-headed and 

 others hollow at the butt, making such timber inferior in 

 quality. This is especially true of White Oak and Black Oak. 

 In general the stand of poles is poor and only occasionally 

 is there a well stocked area, while reproduction of seedlings 

 and saplings is scarce on account of repeated fires. 



