TJSES AND SUPPLY OP WOOD. 25 



Large timber owners may follow the farmer's example and do for 

 their holdings what he does for his woodlot. They may protect 

 what they have until ready to cut; they may cut the mature and let 

 the young trees grow; they may give the seedlings and sprouts a 

 chance to develop. Occasionally they may thin the stand by remov- 

 ing poor species to help the desirable ones, and it may be thought 

 profitable to plant where nature can not be relied upon. 



If a farmer wishes to grow fence-post timber he does not plant or 

 encourage sycamore, buckeye, basswood, or any other quickly decay- 

 ing wood, but rather such durable species as locust, mulberry, or 

 catalpa. If he wants lumber he gives preference to quickly growing 

 trees of good form. Uncontrolled, nature is as apt to grow a thorn 

 bush or an elder as a yellow poplar or a white pine. In Arkansas, as 

 elsewhere, the practice of forestry will mean that the inferior woods 

 will disappear and the best will occupy the ground, exactly as the 

 Texas longhorn cattle and the razorback hogs have been replaced 

 by breeds that pay better and can be raised as cheaply. 



Arkansas has much swamp land which for a long time to come will 

 be more profitable for growing timber than for anything else. Only 

 certain kinds, however, will grow there. In such situations cotton- 

 wood and willow give good account of themselves, and the wood of 

 each is fit for many purposes. Black willow (Salix nigra) in Arkansas 

 may reach merchantable size in 20 or 30 years, and more of it will 

 grow on an acre than of almost any other wood. It is not a very 

 high class lumber, but makes good boxes, wagon beds, and com- 

 modities of that kind. Cottonwood is in more demand and at better 

 prices. It grows rapidly and is suited to many types of wet lands. 

 Cypress and tupelo are swamp trees and will thrive in situations 

 where few other species can live; but they grow very slowly, and it is 

 questionable whether after the present stands have been exhausted 

 they will figure largely in the supply. 



Willow oak (Quercus phellos) is a tree with leaves like willow and 

 wood like red oak. It thrives well in some parts of Arkansas, espe- 

 cially in the lower valleys. In favorable situations it increases in size 

 nearly as rapidly as willow. The wood is generally considered of 

 somewhat less attractive grain than red oak, but it often goes to mar- 

 ket as such. It is strong, hard, stiff, and fit for many uses. When 

 oak timber is planted for commercial purposes in Arkansas, the willow 

 oak will doubtless be carefully considered because of the vigor of its 

 growth and the desirable form of the trunks, which clear themselves 

 of limbs and make shapely, solid sawlogs. 



Doubtless some of the less desirable species of oak in Arkansas, 

 such as blackjack (Quercus marilandica) , will gradually disappear 

 from the forests because not wanted; but other species may be 

 expected to hold their place through all changes. White oak (Quer- 

 cus alba) is one of these. It constitutes a considerable part of the 

 forest wealth now, and, if proper management is applied, should be 



