OF KASTKHX TEXAS. 19 



Approximate total area 54-0,1 (>(> acres. 



Virgin timber lands 125,000 acres. 



Second growth lands Negligible. 



Culled and cut-over lands 350,000 acres. 



All other lands 65.1 r,n acres. 



The area da-sided as virgin timber contains only about five per cent 

 of longleal' pine lands and the same amount of cypress in two brakes, one 

 east and the other west of Kountze. The balance, nearly 90 per cent, is 

 in the well known "Big Thicket" of the southern part of the county ami 

 consists of mixed hardwoods more or less logged but still containing much 

 valuable timber. The pine land as well as the timber is owned by the 

 lumber operator-. 



As frequent and serious fires prevent reproduction the area of second 

 growth lands is negligible and has been included in that of culled and 

 cut-over lands. A striking example, however, of the results obtained when 

 cut-over areas are protected is shown in a sapling stand of longleaf pine 

 on the outskirts of Kountze. Trees from 15 to 25 years old are now six to 

 eight inches in diameter, 35 to 40 feet tall and average about 1,200 trees 

 to the acre. 



Culled and cut-over lands dating back 10 to 25 years now support but 

 little merchantable timber growth. Only a few stands in this class will 

 average 300 to 1,000 feet per acre. In few sections of eastern Texas has 

 clear cutting been more pronounced. 



Farms in the county are small and the total improved land area is 

 less than 7,000 acres. Some little new land is cleared annually and the 

 timber burned during the process. Soil erosion is serious where lands 

 are not protected. The prosperous farmer is one who combines stock 

 raising with general farming. Xo part of the county is under stock law. 



The livestock industry is one of the most important in Hardin County. 

 Lar.o-e numbers of cattle, sheep and goats are grazed on the cut-over lands 

 and on an area of about 60,000 acres of prairie in the southern part of 

 the county. 



The lumbering industry began about 35 years ago. Seven mills, two 

 cutting 100 thousand and 75 thousand feet, respectively, and the rest small 

 and irregular in their cut, produce approximately 80,000,000 feet annually. 

 One large sawmill at Yoth. in Jefferson County, trams it raw material from 

 Hardin County. 



At present one turpentine operator is cropping the timber on approxi- 

 mately 8,000 acres. The cup and gutter system is used, limber being cut 

 immediately following the cropping and the crop areas burned over an- 

 nually. Approximately 7,500 pine. 2.000 red oak and 500 post oak hewn 

 are cut yearly. Pine ties arc treated before being used. Although 

 waste characterizes the operation the tie industry may last indefinitely at 

 this rate of production. The stave industry, formerly a large one, has 

 decreased to a present annual output of not more than 3,000 white oak 

 staves, but at this rate the industry may be expected to last indefinitely. 

 X"t more than ten cars of fuel wood are heinir shipped annually. There 

 is, however, an abundance of cordwood in the countv. In addition 5,000 

 telegraph poles, 12.nnu pieces of railroad piling, 100,000 cubic feet of 



