34 PRELIMINARY STUDY OF 



is especially vital in these timbered regions. Legislative and other 

 means toward this end will be discussed in another part of this re- 

 port. The State should also inaugurate studies of the rate of 

 growth and silvicultural requirements under local conditions of the 

 more important species, in order to show the probable results that 

 can be obtained in growing timber and the best methods to use. 

 An investigation of short-leaf pine and the conditions under which 

 it reproduces would be of great practical value, especially in the 

 Cumberlands. A study of second-growth chestnut and yellow pop- 

 lar in Tennessee has already been started by the State Geologist in 

 cooperation with the Forest Service for the purpose of determining 

 the most practicable methods of management. A study of the man- 

 agement of coal lands for mine timbers, to find the methods that are 

 most suitable and the probable yield in each type, is greatly needed 

 in the Cumberland Plateau. 



VALLEY OF EAST TENNESSEE AND HIGHLAND RIM. 



While these regions are separated by the Cumberland Plateau, 

 the character and distribution of the forests and the broad prob- 

 lems of forest management are similar, if the more mountainous 

 ridges of the Valley of East Tennessee be excepted. Both contain 

 a considerable proportion of absolute forest land, possibly one- 

 fourth of the total area. Forestry will, however, always be subor- 

 dinate to farming. The forest is broken in distribution and owned 

 mainly by farmers. It is largely depleted of valuable timber, and 

 its productive capacity has deteriorated because of fires, indiscrimi- 

 nate grazing, and repeated culling of the best trees. 



A considerable proportion of the timber produced in the future 

 will be used directly upon the farm. There is also a good general 

 market for nearly all classes of forest products in the numerous 

 towns and cities. Management can, therefore, be on a rather inten- 

 sive basis, and the farmer can well afford to use his spare time in 

 keeping his woodland in the best possible condition. He can usu- 

 ally find ways of using on his own place the material that he thins 

 out, even if no other market can be found for it. Unfortunately, 

 the improvement of farm wood lots ordinarily receives little con- 

 sideration. Trees are cut because they are handy and suit the pur- 

 pose, even if it would be much more profitable in the long run to 

 leave them and use instead inferior or overmature trees that might 

 be a little more difficult to get at or work up. It is also a common 

 mistake to try to combine timber and grass production, with poor 



