46 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



The virgin timber consists of longleaf pine in the central and southern 

 portions,, mixed hardwoods (estimated 50,000,000 feet) through the cen- 

 tral section in the bottomlands and not less than 8,000,000 feet of cypress 

 adjacent to the town of San Augustine. Practically none of this timber, 

 except the pine, is being cut at the present time. The major portion of 

 virgin timber is owned by the large mill companies. 



The best areas of timber in the second growth type are located in the 

 central portion of the county. These lands, although no thought is given 

 to the future value of the timber, now support a thrifty growth of longleaf 

 and shortleaf pine, sweet gum, and oak. 



The greater percentage of culled and cut-over lands are of recent origin. 

 These lands are slowly being reforested with red and black oak and sweet 

 gum with a small percentage of shortleaf and longleaf pine in the mixture. 

 The absence of pine reproduction is due to the practice of burning these 

 areas and to the scarcity of seed trees left after logging. 



Farms although small show considerable improvement within the past 

 decade. New lands are slowly being cleared and no old lands are being 

 abandoned. Improved farm land soils are subject to severe washing 

 unless terraced. Pasture and waste lands are usually found in connec- 

 tion with farms. No value is placed upon them although they furnish 

 good grazing to free ranging stock. About one-fourth of the county is 

 under hog law; the sentiment is rapidly growing. 



Lumbering operations have been carried on in Sail Augustine County 

 for at least fifteen years. Four mills located in the adjoining counties 

 tram their logs from this county. Six local mills are cutting at the 

 present time. The total lumber output of the county is not less than 

 150,000,000 feet annually. At this rate of production the large mills may 

 continue for perhaps 10 years and several smaller mills indefinitely. 



Approximately 5,000 acres are now being cropped for turpentine, the 



cup and gutter system being used. Tie operators produce not more than 



6.800 pine, 1,300 oak, and 400 gum ties annually. This industry is not 



..rge as it has formerly been, but may continue at this rate for several 



years. 



As a conservative estimate 50 per cent of the total grass and woodland 

 area burns over annually and this in spite of the fact that general sen- 

 timent is strongly opposed to burning. Pine reproduction is taking pos- 

 session of protected areas and in such places a second crop is assured. 



SAX JAC1XTO COUNTY. 



San Jaeinto Conntv lies within the northern portion of the loblolly 

 pine region. The land surface, rolling in the western and central portio; s 

 but becoming more nearly level in the east, drains into the -Trinity and 

 San Jacinto Rivers, Soils vary from light sand to black waxy and heavy 

 river bottom soils. An outcrop of sandstone roek is found in the central 

 section. Bond issues for public road improvement have heeii issued in 

 two road districts. About 13 miles of mainline and -'0 mile* of logging 

 railroad serve the county. 



The land area mav be divided as follows : 



