18 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



these lands the timber has not reached merchantable size and is damaged 

 annually by fires. 



Culled and cut-over lands date back 43 years. Those cut at an early date 

 are now being logged a second time. Present operations practically clear 

 cut the areas. Most cut-over lands support a stand of shortleaf pine and 

 mixed hardwoods and where fire is kept out will reproduce readily. These 

 lands will eventually be sold for farms. A woodlot protected from fire 

 and properly managed should be a part of each farm. 



Diversified farming is the practice and agricultural conditions are 

 improving each year. Although very little new land is cleared it is notice- 

 able that no old land is abandoned. Farms average 100 acres in size. 

 Soil washing is not a serious problem. Practically all the county is under 

 hog law. 



The lumbering industry dates back to 1873. Operations, formerly on 

 a large scale, have decreased until at present six small mills with an ir- 

 regular output produce approximately 10,000,000 feet annually. At this 

 rate, however, they may operate indefinitely. 



Tie operators produce in the neighborhood of 120,000 hewn ties annu- 

 ally, most of which are pine. All ties are treated before being used. The 

 tie industry is exceedingly wasteful and cannot continue longer than six 

 or seven years. One operator cuts more than 20,000 white oak staves 

 annually and will probably continue to cut for four or five years. Cord- 

 wood production is governed entirely by the local demand. Telephone 

 and telegraph poles are cut only for home consumption; the same may be 

 said of fence posts. One factory at Longview consumes not less than "300 

 cords a year in the manufacture of excelsior mattresses. The supply of 

 mine timber may last indefinitely at the present output of 15,000 mine 

 props annually. Two shingle mills now operating are exceedingly irreg- 

 ular in their output. One box and crate factory consumes not more than 

 2,500,000 feet of gum yearly. 



The timbered area of Gregg County burns over once every three to five 

 years. Little attention is given to grass and woodland fires as long as farm 

 improvements are irot damaged. The regular occurrence of these fires, 

 however, prevents the reforestation of cut-over lands with pine and en- 

 courages the growth of the less desirable of the hardwoods. 



HARDIN COUNTY. 



Hardin County is largely within the loblolly pine region, the north- 

 eastern, third being in the longleaf region. The land surface is flat or 

 rolling and drains to the south and east into the Neches Eiver. Much of 

 the soil is sandy with a red clay subsoil, fine in texture and with a ten- 

 dency to pack. A large area in the eastern portion of the county is com- 

 posed of what is locally known as "crawfish" land. Practically all public 

 roads in the county are graded and one road through the county is shelled. 

 There are 116 miles of mainline and 95 miles of logging railroad in the 

 county. Extensive oil interests are being developed in the section about 

 Sour Lake. 



The land area may be divided as follows: 



