EXISTING SUPrLY OF TIMBER. 



41 



the dried debris resulting from logging fills the woods. Unless 

 these swamps are burnt out a growth of the same species is most 

 likely to replace the white cedar after lumbering, but in the event 

 of a fire the white bay {3Iagnolia glauca L.) will succeed and 

 usually retain possession. Although white cedar is very valuable, 

 grows rapidly, and there is only a comparatively small amount 

 in the Eastern United States, these swamps are from carelessness 

 frequently burnt and the chance of a regrowth thus destroyed. 



The loblolly pine, now generally recognized as a valuable lum- 

 ber tree, is the dominant pine over a large area, and has been 

 removed from only a relativel}^ small part of the territor}^ it occu- 

 pied. It is a tree of rapid growth which seeds abundantly and 

 usually follows itself after lumbering. Oak occasionally replaces it 

 £is the hardwood uplands are neared. However, on account of the 

 destruction of a great part of the young growth, these second 

 growth forests are never as dense as they should be. This produces 

 less timber to the acre and is the cause of many deformities, as 

 knotty, crooked and short-stemmed stocks. The loblolly pine is 

 also taking the place of the long-leaf pine in the forest on moist 

 soils, and on drier soils when the latter have been under cultiva- 

 tion. The standing merchantable loblolly pine can be said to cover 

 about 1,150,000 acres in the eastern part of the State. Allowing 

 a cut of 4,000 feet, board measure, to the acre, this will make 

 4,600,000,000 feet of standing loblolly pine. At the present rate 

 of cutting, 290,000,000 feet, board measure, having been reported 

 as cut during 1893, this would last fifteen years. The final amount 

 cut will, however, be much larger than this, since in the mean- 

 while there will be a constant increase each year in the amount of 

 young growth available for milling purposes and a considerable 

 increase in the size of the merchantable pine now standing. The 

 entire acreage of loblolly pine land, including the lumbered areas 

 with second growth on them, the unlumbered and lands where it 

 is taking the place of the long-leaf pine, is considerably over 

 4,000,000 acres. 



There are possibly 300,000,000 feet of the savanna pine in poco- 

 sins and around the edges of swamps and nearly as much short- 

 leaf pine situated in the counties bordering the oak uplands. Most 

 of this will be lumbered along with. the loblolly pine. 



