FOREST RESOURCES OF EASTERN TEXAS. 



13 



Practically all the virgin timber is mixed hardwoods along the Sulphur 

 River. Areas lying in the northwestern section of the county are owned 

 almost exclusively by the larger lumber companies. In cutting virgin 

 timber no diameter limit is set and stands are practically cut clean. 



Second growth areas are mainly from old fields and are located in 

 scattered tracts throughout the county. There are no merchantable second 

 growth stands which have originated from cut-over lands. Very little 

 importance is placed upon the future value of the timber. 



Areas cut over within 15 years have been practically denuded of their 

 timber. Older cuttings have resulted in much shortleaf-pine reproduc- 

 tion, but the timber will hardly be merchantable for many years. Lands 

 in this class are for the most part adapted to agriculture, but such use 

 is far in the future. 



Tie Cutting is Accompanied by Great Waste through High Stumps and Unused 



Slabs and Tops. 



Home owners practice diversified farming, while renters grow the 

 staples, such as cotton and corn. Some new land is being cleared annu- 

 ally, although many farms abandoned at the close of the Civil War have 

 never been put back into cultivation. Farms average 80 to 200 acres in 

 size. Considerable progress has been made in farm management during 

 the past five years as the lumber industry is not large enough to interfere 

 with agricultural development. Farm lands in the more hilly sections are 

 subject to severe washing and much terracing is done in all sections of the 

 county. Three-fourths of the county is under hog law and one or two dis- 

 tricts have general stock law. 



Lumbering operations date back 35 years. Eight mills, one of 45 



