- On the Cypress Timber of Mississippi and Louisiana. 15 
Arr. I1—On the Cypress Timber of Mississippi and Louis- 
tana; by Monrrovitte W. Dicxrson, M.D., and Anprew 
ROWN. . 
(Read before the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, at the meet- 
ing in September, 1847, at Boston.*) 
re I. Tur cypresst of Louisiana and Mississippi, is found to ob- 
4 serve no very marked geographical preferences, except so far as 
respects proximity to the Mississippi river and its tributary water 
courses. It is distributed about equally, over the alluvial lands 
embraced in these states; yet it is by no means interspersed 
equally among the other forest growth; but it observes certain 
special hydrographical positions more or less detached and of va- 
triable area. It attains its highest perfection between the 31st and 
32d degree of latitude. 
_ The quantity of cypress timber distributed in detached loca- 
tions, over the alluvial lands of both states, when contrasted with 
the amount of other kinds of timber, is variously estimated, at 
from one-tenth to one-hundredth part of the whole; an 
the most reliable information we can‘obtain, as well as from direct 
observation, we arrive at the conclusion, that a seventy-fifth may 
be regarded as an approximate estimate. From defects and imper- 
fections of growth, there can be but about one-fifth of that quan- 
tity made available for practical purposes, even where circumstan- 
ees are favorable for securing it ;—for its position and condition are 
usually such, as to preclude the possibility of obtaining the timber, 
except by floating it out of the swamps during seasons of overflow. 
_ Its specific gravity is often such as to render that mode imprac- 
Ucable, it varying from -7 to 12; the usual specific gravity is 
- about 9. Hence the greater portion, whose gravity is above that 
of water, must of necessity be left in the forests to waste and de- 
cay. On the above data, there will be, of the cypress growth of 
all kinds and qualities, (amounting to one seventy-fifth of all the 
forest timber of every denomination,) only one-third part fit for 
useful purposes: and one-third of this amount being of greater 
— than water, there will be available for domestic use not 
More than ;!,th of the whole product of the forest. Such be- 
ee hg the character of the primitive forests of Louisiana and Mis- 
SIssippi, with respect to the quantity of cypress timber, it must 
be obvious that much of this wood has already been exhausted ; 
and as it is of very slow growth, the day cannot be very distant 
_ When it will altogether fail to furnish a sufficient supply for the 
Markets of the above named states. : 
Submitted as a Re ‘upon the Cypress timber of Lonisiana and Mississippi, 
go Menib es, se it as a animations upon the subject at the preceding 
a5 the onsen 3C 
gt 
