Forest Conditions in Northern Ozarks of Arkansas 65 



Of the typical Gulch Type trees, Sycamore and Sweet Gum 

 are by far the most abundant and most important. 



SIIOWI.M; STAND ON TIMBER SALE AREA OF 4,000 ACRES. 



TABLE SHOWING REPRODUCTION AND STAND TO BE LEFT ON SAME 



AREA. 



FIRES. 



Fires have been a great menace to the forests of this 

 region. For the past generation or two it has been the 

 custom of the inhabitants to burn the woods each year in 

 order, as they believe, to keep out the brush, improve the 

 grazing and to eradicate the Texas Fever Tick. Practically 

 all of the fires are ground fires and although they do little 

 damage to the mature timber they destroy reproduction of 

 seedlings and saplings. Originally the forest was composed 

 of an open stand of tall straight trees and it is common to 

 hear an old resident say: "The woods were so open you could 

 see a deer for a half-mile." However, the burning year after 

 year has kept the young growth burned off leaving the stools 

 in the ground ready to send up numerous sprouts each spring. 



