THE SOUTHERN CYPRESS. 51 
VALUE OF CUT-OVER SWAMP LAND. 
Swamp lands with all the cypress cut out are of rather indefinite 
value. They are considered mostly unproductive at present and are 
being held chiefly for their potential value for agriculture after drain- 
ing and clearmg. ‘The scattering stands of associated tupelo gum 
left on the larger river deltas and narrower stream bottoms have 
very small stumpage value, while in the slightly higher undulating 
swamps the oak, ash, and other hardwoods, if of good development, 
are generally being logged along with the cypress. 
Tn the Mississippi Valley, where a large percentage of the 16,000,000 
acres of more or less reclaimed swamp land hes, a figure of $2 to $2.50 
perhaps represents fairly well the claimed or speculative value of cut- 
over cypress swamp lands. Deep sloughs and lagoons fall far below 
these figures, while ‘‘ridges”’ and higher swamps exceed them in their 
actual value. A clear distinction should be drawn between stump 
land and open marsh land, both of which may be permanent swamp. 
The equalized average value of denuded cypress lands in Louisiana 
agreed upon by the State board of equalization for 1913 was $1.50 
per acre, while denuded pine land was $2.13, denuded hardwood 
Jand $2.15, fresh-water marsh $0.94 to $1.08, and salt-water marsh- 
land from $0.49 to $0.88 per acre. Some large accessible tracts in 
Louisiana of black calcareous soil and open marsh are held as high as 
$10 to $15 per acre. Largely because of the sterility of the acid souls 
without the addition of lime, and the high cost of clearing the land of 
the mass of stumps with large heavy roots, the “‘ponds” and large 
inland swamps over the lower Atlantic coastal region are at present 
considered of low nominal value. 
COST OF DRAINING AND CLEARING. 
The reclaiming of permanent swamp soil for cultivation requires 
(1) the improvement of natural drainage channels and construction 
of main ditches or canals—such public drains are made through the 
cooperation of owners under the provision of State drainage laws; 
(2) the construction of branches and laterals by the landowners; and 
(3) the removal of natural vegetation, including stumps. The order in 
which the various classes.of permanent swamp lands will come under 
reclamation will obviously be governed by the question of cost and 
relative soil fertility. Open grassy swamps of which there is a large 
area, will undoubtedly be chosen first in drainage plans, the glades or 
hardwood ridges naturally drained during a considerable part of the 
year will follow, and then the deep swamps, where cypress finds its 
characteristic home. 
The cost of complete reclamation of stump lands will be very much 
greater than the average for all lands classed as permanent swamp. 
The Office of Experiment Stations of the Department of Agriculture 
