8 
nessee and Kentucky, though tracts rich in ash are found in the rich 
mountain valleys of the eastern parts of these States and in West Vir- 
ginia. Much ash is also cut in the hardwood forests of Michigan and 
Wisconsin. Memphis is the leading market for ash. The present 
annual cut is estimated at 350,000,000 feet, considerably less than was 
manufactured fifteen years ago. 
Poplar.—The principal centers of poplar production are Kentucky, 
Tennessee, and West Virginia, though it occurs in greater or less abun- 
dance throughout the hardwood forests of the Ohio valley. It never — 
makes a pure forest, being scattered among other broad-leaved kinds, 
and reaching its best development in the rich, moist valleys of western 
Tennessee. About 500,000,000 feet is cut annually. 
Cottonwood.—The cottonwood attains its highest development in the © 
moist. fertile bottom lands of western Tennessee and Mississippi, and 
in Arkansas. This species has the widest range of any broad-leaved 
economic tree of the American forest, but commercially it is only im- — 
portant in the lower Mississippi valley. Cottonwood has only recently 
made its appearance in the lumber trade, and much of it is still sold as 
poplar, there being a prejudice against the wood because of its great 
tendency to warp under old systems of drying. As placed on the mar- 
ket to-day its merits give it a recognized standing. The cut is esti- 
mated at between 150,000,000 and 300,000,000 feet. 
Other hardwoods——Among other hardwoods which have a place in 
commercial lists, birch, cherry, black walnut, maple, gum, sycamore, 
and elm are cut for lumber, while there is a steady market for dogwood 
and persimmon for spool and bobbin stock. Birch is a common. tree 
throughout the Alleghanies and the Northern Lake region, the: princi- 
pal sources of supply being the West Virginia mountains, northern 
Michigan, New York, and Maine. Black birch (Betula lenta) is the prin- 
cipal species used. The growing popularity of birch furniture has 
increased its importance in the trade. Black wild cherry is widely dis- | 
tributed in the forests of the East, but the principal lumber supply is 
found in the mountain valleys of West Virginia and Tennessee. It — 
is seldom the dominant tree over any extent of forest, occurring in mix- 
ture with other broad-leaved trees. Itis largely used in the manufacture 
of cabinet work and furniture. Black walnut, once common in the rich 
bench lands of the Mississippi Basin, has been so largely cut as almost to 
have disappeared from market quotations. A considerable quantity yet 
remains in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, but it is now sold by the 
individual tree. Sweet gum is a tree of the swamps, and reaches its 
highest development in the Yazoo Delta, Mississippi, and the swamp 
laads of Arkansas. It is a valuable furniture and veneer stock. Syca- 
more and elm are common in all the low lands along the streams of the | 
Ohio and lower Mississippi valleys. Maple has a greater northern range © 
than most of the trees of thisgroup. It attains its highest development 
in the forests of Michigan. Itislargely used for flooring, furniture, and 
is aE 
interior finish. The annual cut of these hardwoods of minor importance, | 
although small for each species, in the aggregate equals nearly that of the 
leading commercial hardwoods. 
B. E. Fernow, 
Approved : Chief of Division of Forestry. 
J. STERLING Morton, 
Secretary of Agricullure, 
WaAsHINGTON, D. C., February 10, 1896. 
