8 YELLOW POPLAR IN TENNESSEE. 



lar numerically in young stands on cut-over land than there was in the 

 original forest. This young timber will constitute a very important ele- 

 ment in the yellow poplar supply of the future. On the other hand on 

 forest lands from which the old yellow poplars were removed before any 

 of the other hard woods were cut, there is usually a poor replacement of 

 young yellow poplar. There was not enough light for the establishment 

 of yellow poplar, and seedlings of other species which are more tolerant 

 of shade, occupied the space from which the yellow poplar was cut. Where 

 tracts have been badly burned, the young yellow poplar has been largely 

 killed. 



In farmers' wood lots there is as a rule a large amount of young poplar 

 except where the pasturage of cattle has suppressed the young trees, 

 which is the case on many farms. There are, however, many pure stands 

 of young yellow poplar of sapling and pole size, on farms which have 

 sprung up in old pastures that were under fence so that cattle were ex- 

 cluded. While the total acreage of these stands is not large, they can be 

 made where they occur, extremely valuable, if given proper management. 



There is likewise a considerable acreage of second growth timber in 

 old coalings. While these stands are largely formed of chestnut and oak 

 sprouts, they generally contain, in the coves and hollows, a larger per- 

 centage of yellow poplar than the original forest. 



While there is undoubtedly an excellent representation throughout Ten- 

 nessee, of sapling and small pole-sized yellow poplar in second growth, 

 there is a deficiency of large pole-sized trees which might become mer- 

 chantable as large saw timber, during the next 20 to 25 years. 



Notwithstanding the generally excellent representation of young 

 growth yellow poplar, the future supply of this timber is threatened by 

 the inroads which are being made on the young growth, by cutting it be- 

 fore it is mature, for paper-pulp stock and box-board bolts. 



FOREST CHARACTERISTICS. 



Form of stem and root system. Mature poplar trees attain large sizes. 

 It is one of the largest, if not the largest, species occurring in Tennessee. 

 In diameter it may occasionally be surpassed by the sycamore, and in 

 height by the cottonwood and hemlock (spruce pine), but none of these 

 equals yellow poplar in both dimensions. Individual trees in Tennessee 

 have been measured which had total heights of more than 140 feet, and 

 diameters measured above the root swelling of more than 60 inches ; while 

 heights of more than 150 feet and diameters exceeding 75 inches have 

 been recorded, but not in the same tree. The length of stem free of 

 branches of mature trees varies from 50 to 75 feet. The crown generally 

 occupies from 40 to 50 per cent, of the total height. The stem is column- 



