28 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



Virgin timber stands have been culled repeatedly and at the present 

 time the area, if any exists, is so small as to be negligible. Mixed hard- 

 woods in the bottoms, though culled, are of considerable importance. 



Most of the larger forest areas may be classed as cut-over and but 

 little merchantable timber except for fuel or ties has been left. Lands 

 in this class are found in both the pine and hardwood types. The practice 

 of burning over the grass and woodlands has precluded natural repro- 

 duction. 



As soils in the county are fertile truck and fruit growing are becoming 

 important industries. Rice growing, because of the generally poor drain- 

 age conditions, is the most important agricultural operation. Of the total 

 improved farm land area not less than 130,000 acres are rice lands. By 

 far the largest single land classification is open prairie land embracing as 

 it does practically all of the region south of the narrow timber belt. Areas 

 of swamp and overflow land also constitute a large acreage. One-fifth of 

 the county is under hog law. 



Although at least seven mills are located in the county practically 

 none of them secure their raw material locally. The timber is trammed 

 from the counties to the north. One 75 thousand-foot mill located at Voth 

 trams its timber from Hardin County. One comparatively small plant, 

 however, is milling hardwood timber cut from the bottomlands and 

 bayous. The total lumber output has been disregarded since the cut of 

 the mills has been included in the figures for the adjoining counties. 



The production of fuel, fence posts and ties is for local consumption 

 and may be said to be negligible. One handle factory and one box and 

 crate factory are cutting hardwood timber from the bottoms. One 

 shingle factory manufactures cypress shingle stock from local raw material. 



Heavy and repeated cuttings have stripped Jefferson County of prac- 

 tically all the merchantable timber. Grass and woodland fires have 

 prevented such reproduction as might otherwise be possible on the cut- 

 over areas. In view of the large acreage of future agricultural lands, the 

 area of prairie land and the condition of the woodland generally the 

 county may be disregarded as a factor in the present or future timber pro- 

 duction of East Texas. 



LAMAR COUNTY. 



Lamar County is located in the extreme northeastern part of the post 

 oak region. The 1'and surface is generally level and drains to the northeast 

 and southeast into the Red and Sulphur Rivers, respectively. Soils 

 vary from light loams to the black, sticky type of the bottomland areas. 

 All soil types, particularly the heavier ones, are fertile. Public roads show 

 considerable improvement. The Red River is navigable to a limited ex- 

 tent. About 97 miles of mainline railroad traverse the county. 



The land area may be divided as follows : 



Approximate total area 577,920 acres. 



Virgin timber lands Negligible. 



Second growth lands 120,000 acres. 



Culled and cut-over lands 133,000 acres. 



All other lands. . 324,920 acres. 



