﻿COTTONWOOD IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 37 



is, however, a very common method of clearing bottom lands in 

 the Mississippi Valley for agricultural purposes. On areas subject 

 to overflow Cottonwood reproduction is almost certain to follow if 

 seed trees are present. All said, however, deadening is probably 

 preferable to leaving the inferior species where the owner is pre- 

 pared to make an actual investment for the sake of insuring future 

 cottonwood stands. Only the largest trees, such as could not readily 

 be felled with several strokes of the ax, should be girdled. The cost 

 of deadening, as well as swamping, piling, and burning of the 

 smaller growth, can usually be kept within $2.50 per acre. On 

 many areas from $1 to $2 would put the ground in good condition 

 for cottonwood seeding. Where the cost exceeds $3 deadening will 

 probably, as a rule, be considered inexpedient. 



In this connection the question of brush disposal should also be 

 considered. There seems to be no possibility at present of utilizing 

 cottonwood tops in any practical manner. They make very little 

 brush and decay quickly, even though left unlopped. Moreover, 

 they may be carried away by high water. There will be little to 

 gain, therefore, in burning the brush, either for the sake of fire 

 protection or the encouragement of reproduction. However, where 

 much undergrowth and small, inferior trees must be swamped 

 out, it may often be advisable to pile such material with the tops 

 and burn it when partly dry. In thick cane or grass, tops and other 

 brush will burn, even if left scattered. If the ground is to be 

 dragged to expose the mineral soil, piling would be advantageous. 



COTTONWOOD- WILLOW STANDS. 



Cottonwood and willow are usually associated only in compara- 

 tively young stands. Either cottonwood is crowded out by the willow 

 during the first 20 years or it overtops and kills out the willow. If 

 any willow is left at the time of logging, it should certainly be 

 removed, since it is distinctly inferior for lumber. If it can not 

 be disposed of for pulp wood, charcoal, or woodenware, for which 

 uses it is well suited and frequently in considerable demand, it 

 should be cut or girdled. If cottonwood is cut for pulp in young 

 mixed stands, the willow should also be taken, and any adjacent 

 stands of pure willow removed at the same time. Young willow is 

 generally in demand for revetting the river banks and should be 

 disposed of without difficulty. 



CLOSER UTILIZATION. 



Close utilization is the first step in the proper handling of cotton- 

 wood stands. Every tree that will make a merchantable log should 

 be cut, stumps should be low, and the trees utilized as high as possible 

 into the tops. High stumps are often left because the trees are cut at 



