GENERAL SURVEY OF TEXAS WOODLANDS. 23 



white, overcup, burr and cow oaks, white and green ash, black walnut, 

 hickory, cottonwood, and basswood (linn) have been cut out. There is 

 an abundance of young growth of these species and vast quantities of 

 timber of large size among the species hitherto considered of little value, 

 such as red, black, willow, and water oaks, some species of hickory, 

 sweet, black, and tupelo gums, sycamore, elm, magnolia, holly, maple, 

 and others. Stave cutters have sought the white oaks while other val- 

 uable species have gone for veneer stock, boxes, headings, furniture, and 

 a multitude of other products. The rapid development of small wood- 

 using industries, particularly in Northeast Texas, has made it profit- 

 able to haul these hardwoods long distances from the bottoms to the mills. 



Large quantities of timber in the bottomland forests yet remain to 

 be harvested. The value of Texas hardwoods is only now beginning to 

 be recognized. A number of new hardwood mills are being put into 

 operation and the quality of our native hardwoods is being widely and 

 systematically advertised over the country for the first time this present 

 year. Market values are steadily increasing and stumpage prices may 

 already be considered high in restricted localities. Unfortunately this 

 is not true throughout and many farmers in clearing lands continue to 

 deaden timber which, if near a mill, would bring $10 to $15 per thou- 

 sand feet. For lack of a correct knowledge of market values many 

 farmers are practical!}'' giving awa}* their hardwood timber. It would 

 be far better to keep their timber standing a few years longer than to 

 sell for perhaps $1 per thousand feet stumpage for which the owner 

 may receive $5 or more in the near future. 



In the western extension of .these bottomland forests the elms, hack- 

 berry, pecan, Texas red, burr, and live oaks, sycamore, cottonwood, and 

 other less -important species prevail. Pecan culture becomes an impor- 

 tant industry. Native pecan trees are not only spared for the nuts but 

 are improved by top pruning and grafting and furnish substantial in- 

 comes to their owners. Other species are not valued highly but they 

 furnish an unlimited supply of fuel, posts, and other products. 



Swamp and Bayou Forests. 



Forests of this type occur chiefly in the undrained Coastal Plain within 

 the loblolly pine region. Along all of the streams of the coast lowlands 

 east of the Trinity River the forests show to a greater or less degree 

 the characteristics of this type. Farther interior, the type prevails 

 wherever the streams are sluggish and are accompanied by swamps and 

 bayous undrained throughout the year. As compared with the extensive 

 bayou forests of Louisiana, these areas are decidedly restricted in Texas. 

 They are most abundant along the lower Neches and Sabine Rivers 

 toward Beaumont and Orange. 



Bald cypress and tupelo gum are the principal species composing this 

 type. With these are usually associated water oak, water ash, swamp 

 maple, sweet magnolia, black gum, swamp hickory, and sweet gum. 

 Where the surface of the soil becomes greatly submerged, tupelo and 

 cypress may be unaccompanied by other species. Peculiarities of struc- 

 ture enable these two to endure such an environment. 



