SILVICAL DESCRIPTION OF YELLOW POPLAR. 43 
. BLACK GUM. 
Black gum is one of the most largely represented species on the 
tract, growing in all situations except on the very sandy soils. The 
deep swamps are, however, the natural home of this species. It is 
always found in mixture, though it often makes up the bulk of the 
stands over considerable areas. It associates with all species except 
the longleaf pine, but most often with cypress, water oak, red gum, 
ash, maple, and loblolly pine. 
Black gum is in no way fastidious as to its soil requirements, and 
will grow on any soil, provided moisture be present. It develops best 
on a moist or wet loamy soil. 
Black gum is not a large tree on the tract. Trees up to 2 feet in 
diameter are common, but larger ones are not plentiful. The bulk of 
the trees are under 70 feet in height, but occasional ones reach 90 feet. 
Under the best conditions a clear bole of 35 to 40 feet and a rather 
long, straggling, flattened crown is developed. 
This species is one of the most tolerant on the tract, often forming 
thickets under the shade of large trees; in fact, it is generally a tree 
of the lower story. 
Reproduction by sprouts on moist pine lands is quite common, but 
seedlings are few. Saplings and poles are plentifully represented. 
RED MAPLE. 
Red maple occurs as scattered individuals throughout the bottom- 
lands, along streams, and in the deep swamps. Along streams and in 
the drier swamps, where the best maple occurs, it is associated with 
oaks, ash, hickory, and pond and loblolly pines; in the deep swamps, 
where it is perhaps more plentiful, with gums and cypresses. 
Red maple requires a fresh soil, and prefers a moist or wet one. 
Its best development is on the moist, rich loams. 
Maple is not a large tree on the tract, seldom exceeding 2 feet in 
diameter, though occasional trees over 30 inches in diameter are seen. 
Under favorable conditions it develops a long bole, with a rather large, 
irregular crown. It is very apt to be crooked and unsound. 
It is one of the tolerant species. Saplings live under a dense shade 
fora long time. In this respect it ranks with the black gum. Repro- 
duction is very scarce, but saplings and poles are plentiful throughout 
the swamps. 
YELLOW POPLAR. 
Yellow poplar occurs along streams and along the edges of and in 
swamps. It occurs infrequently, however, and only as single trees, 
is confined to limited areas, and makes up only a small part of the 
stand. It is found in mixture with all of the species growing in the 
bottoms, and also largely with cypress and the gums in the swamps. 
