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COTTONWOOD IN" THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 35 



growth of vines and underbrush. They will also help to clear the 

 cottonwood of side 'branches. 



The most valuable associates of cottonwood are green and white 

 ash, the various red and white oaks, and red gum. Only ash and 

 oak command higher stumpage values. Red gum is now much less 

 valuable on the stump, and, like the other associates, is much slower 

 growing - . Assuming a stumpage value of $5 per thousand for cot- 

 tonwood, the following figures would be typical for its associates, 

 if of good quality : red gum, $'2; oak, $5 to $7; ash, $6 to $10; cypress, 

 $5; elm, $2. The less important species, such as hackberry, sycamore. 

 boxelder, river birch, and silver maple, usually have little, if any, 

 value for lumber, although under certain conditions they may some- 

 times be worth from 50 cents to $1 for fuel, especially in the north 

 of the valley. 



The high value of ash makes it one of the most desirable species 

 to encourage in the bottoms. Measurements in the northeastern 

 section of Arkansas indicate that in comparison with cottonwood 

 the greater value of ash timber is to a large extent offset by 

 it's much slower grow T th. Ash, however, is used in much smaller 

 sizes than cottonwood, as in the manufacture of tool and implement 

 handles and oars. 



Red gum is more abundant and more extensively used for lumber 

 in the South than is cottonwood. Its use is increasing, and it repro- 

 duces readily. Thus, although its present stumpage value is low and 

 its growth much less rapid than that of cottonwood, it will often 

 be advisable to encourage red gum in restocking logged-over areas. 



The faster growing oaks, especially red and willow oak, are also 

 of sufficient importance to encourage to a certain extent, particu- 

 larly on the higher portions of the bottoms. They do not grow as 

 fast as cottonwood, but produce more valuable wood. 



SEED TREES. 



As in pure cottonwood, a clear cutting system with provision for 

 seed trees is the only means of securing reproduction of cottonwood 

 in mixed stands. It is likewise adapted to the other valuable species, 

 except oak. Red gum's intolerance of shade is probably exceeded 

 among the bottomland species only by cottonwood itself. Ash when 

 young will endure partial shade, but during most of its life full light 

 is essential to rapid growth. The prolific regeneration of these three 

 species on old fields and other openings where the mineral soil is 

 exposed confirms the advisability of clear cutting. 



The selection of seed trees in mixed stands should be governed 

 by the same general considerations as in pure stands. Since all 

 gum and oak trees bear seed, selection of seed trees is easy. Seed 



