32 BULLETIN" 272, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



1,000 acres was estimated at between 4,000 and 6,000 per acre, 

 although irregular in distribution and absent from many small areas. 

 In general, it is more scattered and is confined to the wetter situations. 

 In the green swamp of North Carolina young cypress was seen 

 competing well with red maple, water oak, ash, and tupelo gum in 

 tracts logged from 3 to 6 years ago. In four years cypress here 

 grows to be from 4 to 6 feet high (PL VI). In the great delta region 

 of southern Louisiana former cuttings were seen in which cypress 

 reproduction was just as successful as willow and tupelo gum in 

 taking the ground where seed trees had been left (PI. V). Mohr, 1 

 who made extensive examinations of the region, says: 



In the dense forests which, for example, cover the shallow lakelike expansion of the 

 lower Atchafalaya River and the flooded banks of the numerous channels of the mouth 

 of the Red River, where the cypress occurs almost pure, reproduction takes place 

 after the larger trees are removed. 



In swamps a very decided change in the vegetation usually follows 

 lumbering. This is due to the free exposure to light of surfaces pre- 

 viously under the dense shade of a high cypress forest, and the pres- 

 ence of many of the herbaceous plants and trees at the time of logging. 

 Thus, cypress appears similar to white pine, northern spruce, and 

 other species in returning slowly and fighting its way back, following 

 heavy cutting in former virgin stands. Furthermore, in the case of 

 cypress, if its former home has been upbuilding and becoming drier, 

 the chances are against successful reproduction and the return of the 

 species even in reduced numbers. 



The cause for incomplete and unsatisfactory stands of young cy- 

 press are mainly: 



(1) Inadequate supply of seed trees, due to close lumbering and the 

 smashing of practically every remaining cypress of seed-bearing age 

 by modern methods of steam logging. 



(2) Inherent requirements of the seed and young seedling for mois- 

 ture in great abundance for germination and early seedling develop- 

 ment, which place the species at a disadvantage when in competition 

 with others on upbuilding swamp areas. 



(3) Heavy seed, which, unlike the seed of most conifers, is not 

 freely scattered by wind. 



(4) Death and injury of young seedlings, due to submergence and 

 sometimes to stream deposition during periods of flood waters. 



There is no record of close observations on the endurance of cypress 

 seedlings under partial or complete submergence. The infrequent 

 coincidence of heavy seed crops and favorable water levels during at 

 least the first season following germination undoubtedly is an impor- 

 tant factor in the amount of cypress reproduction. Delayed or long 

 continued flood periods may result in very late germination of the 



1 Mohr, Charles, Forest Service manuscript, 1898, 



