94 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA. 



About 38% of the trees in the original forests were 

 evergreen, a much larger proportion than in the adjoin- 

 ing black belt, but less than in most of the regions far- 

 ther south. 



Population, etc. — The density of population in this re- 

 gion was about 41 persons to the square mile in 1910, a 

 slight decrease since 1900. Most of the inhabitants are 

 negroes, but the proportion of them is not as large as in 

 the black belt. About half of the region seems to be still 

 wooded, but much of the forest is second growth. There 

 is little or no free range for cattle at the present time. 



Forest products. — The forest products are relatively 

 unimportant, and mainly of the commoner sorts, such as 

 short-leaf and long-leaf pine lumber and products, pine 

 and oak cross-ties, white oak cotton baskets, etc. Some 

 evergreens of various sorts are shipped north in winter 

 for Christmas decorations. This industry will be de- 

 scribed more particularly under region no. 11, where it is 

 more prevalent. 



For this region the Southern Lumberman lists 23 saw- 

 mills with an average capacity of 8,700 feet a day, be- 

 sides one with 50,000, and 3 other wood-working estab- 

 lishments. Thirteen of the mills cut long-leaf pine, 22 

 short-leaf, 2 "white pine" (probably Pin us </labra), 2 

 hickory, 11 white oak, 12 red oak, 8 poplar, and 4 sweet 

 gum. The 50,000-foot mill, at Prentice, Marengo County, 

 operates 9 miles of tram-road, presumably extending 

 into the post-oak flatwoods near by, which are much 

 more heavily timbered. 



