THE SOUTHERN CYPEESS. 51 



VALUE OF CUT-OVER SWAMP LAND. 



Swamp lands with all the cypress cut out are of rather indefinite 

 value. They are considered mostly unproductive at present and are 

 being held chiefly for their potential value for agriculture after drain- 

 ing and clearing. The scattering stands of associated tupelo gum 

 left on the larger river deltas and narrower stream bottoms have 

 very small stumpage value, while hi the slightly higher undulating 

 swamps the oak, ash, and other hardwoods, if of good development, 

 are generally being logged along with the cypress. 



In the Mississippi Valley, where a large percentage of the 16,000,000 

 acres of more or less reclaimed swamp land lies, a figure of $2 to $2.50 

 perhaps represents fairly well the claimed or speculative value of cut- 

 over cypress swamp lands. Deep sloughs and lagoons fall far below 

 these figures, while " ridges" and higher swamps exceed them in their 

 actual value. A clear distinction should be drawn between stump 

 land and open marsh land, both of which may be permanent swamp. 

 The equalized average value of denuded cypress lands in Louisiana 

 agreed upon by the State board of equalization for 1913 was $1.50 

 per acre, while denuded pine land was $2.13, denuded hardwood 

 land $2.15, fresh-water marsh $0.94 to $1.08, and salt-water marsh- 

 land from $0.49 to $0.88 per acre. Some large accessible tracts in 

 Louisiana of black calcareous soil and open marsh are held as high as 

 $10 to SI 5 per acre. Largely because of the sterility of the acid soils 

 without the addition of lime, and the high cost of clearing the land of 

 the mass of stumps with large heavy roots, the "ponds" and large 

 inland swamps over the lower Atlantic coastal region are at present 

 considered of low nominal value. 



COST OF DRAINING AND CLEARING. 



The reclaiming of permanent swamp soil for cultivation requires 



(1) the improvement of natural drainage channels and construction 

 of main ditches or canals — such public drains are made through the 

 cooperation of owners under the provision of State drainage laws; 



(2) the construction of branches and laterals by the landowners; and 



(3 ) the removal of natural vegetation, including stumps. The order in 

 which the various classes of permanent swamp lands will come under 

 reclamation will obviously be governed by the question of cost and 

 y Lativt soil !'< rtility. Open grassy swamps of which there is a large 

 area, will undoubtedly be chosen first in drainage plans, the glades or 

 li;n<]\v<i<,(i ridgfs naturally dmiiicd during a considerable part of the 



r will follow, and then the deep swamps, where cypress finds its 

 ch uracterii I ic Lome. 



The cost of complete reclamation of stump lands will be very much 

 greater than the average for all Lands classed as permanent swamp. 

 Tli< Office of Experim< at Stations of the Department of Agriculture 



