THE FOEESTS BY EEGIONS. 11 



LONGLEAF-PINE REGION. 



The longleaf-pine region comprises two widely separated areas. 

 The larger of these extends through the central and western portions 

 of the State, from the shortleaf uplands on the north to the prairies 

 on the south, and from the alluvial bottoms of the Mississippi Eiver 

 on the east to those of the Sabine River on the boundary line with 

 Texas. Like the uplands, the longleaf-pine area is divided by the 

 Red River Valley. 



The second area, which lies east of the Mississippi River and in- 

 cludes more than half of the Florida parishes, reaches from the 

 Mississippi State line to the marshes of Lake Pontchartrain, and 

 from the alluvial bottoms of the Pearl River to the upland and bluff 

 regions on the west. Together the two areas occupy nearly one- 

 fourth of Louisiana and contain the largest compact bodies of long- 

 leaf pine timber remaining in the United States. 



The soils of the region are chiefly sands and clays, with an im- 

 pervious subsoil of clay. East of the Mississippi River large areas 

 of cut-over land have been transformed into productive truck farms. 

 This section, because of its dry, healthful climate, pure air, and 

 abundance of artesian water, is called the " ozone belt." As a whole, 

 the longleaf pine region exhibits two distinct types — one, the rolling, 

 well-drained hills of the northern portion, the elevation of which 

 generally exceeds 100 feet; the other, the poorly drained flats along 

 its southern boundary, the area of which is relatively small. 



Practically all of the timber on the flats is pure longleaf pine. 

 Occasionally, however, where the water level is close to the surface, 

 loblolly pine appears in the stand. Because of their level nature 

 and proximity to market these flats were cut over before extensive 

 lumber operations began in other parts of the longleaf region. Such 

 cut-over lands in the lower parishes furnish the bulk of the State's 

 output of turpentine. 



North of the flats the rolling pine forests spread in irregular 

 bodies through the remainder of the region, with narrow belts of 

 fine hardwood and loblolly pine timber in the creek bottoms. Saw- 

 mills located at close intervals along the railroads furnish employ- 

 ment to a large part of the population. The best oak, ash, and 

 hickory have been cut, but red gum is still plentiful. The best long- 

 leaf pine timber in the State is situated in the rolling country about 

 Vernon Parish and in parts of Winn Parish, north of the Red River. 

 East of the Mississippi, in the rolling hills of Washington Parish 

 and in the parishes south and west of it, there are also extensive 

 bodies of excellent timber. Even in the heaviest forests, however, 

 the timber has been cut over large areas. In Washington and St. 



