New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-27
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE.
BY SOL0N ROBINSON.
VIII.

IIARITIEs AND COMMERCIAL vALCEs-GREAI
WEALTH LOCKED Up IN SOUTHERN FORESTS.
Ihave been told that large quantities of lve-oak
t,mber. which was cut before the Seminole war and
prevented by that from being sent North now
lies submerged IN the Upper ST Johns. particularly
IN and near Lake Monroe. Perhaps the time may
eome when it will be worth while for the United
States Government To fish up this timber rs 1t was
cut from public land on public account. The danger
Of the utter waste of this valuable timber is imm-
nent since several places where these trees we're
most abundant have been already stripped OF every
tree that tue timber Retters considered worth cut
ting. Cutting live-oak IN East Florida has been
carried on extensively at times, ever since the
country was ceded Ivy the Spaniards the United
States Within the last ten years Govern
ment contractor by the name of Swift, with
n large gang of men and teams. and
steamboats, and schooners has been at work near
the waters of Mosquito Inlet. south of st. Angus
tine until lee has made swift destruction of nearly
every valuable tree within his reach. and unless he
j. belied he has done IL without beng az all partic
Mar who owned the land. Although these trees
make rapid growth, and might be cultivated by Gov
eminent. 50 10 provide Tor a future supply tor
ship guiding it does provide for the preserva-
ton Of those already grown. aud these when once
DESTROYED, will not lie reproduced Ivy natural means.
Live oak forests are exceedingly rare the natural
where the limbs can grow straight out FROM the
bole talrty forty feet. and sometimes foot and
half in da ueter with rounded tops like apple
trees.
OTHER OAKS THAN LIVE OAKS.
Many of the evergreen oaks in the streets of
Southern towns. which often called live oaks by
Northern visitors not SO. although apparently
more CLOSELY allied to them III all their character
istics than any other member of the family. These
beautiful shade-trces generally water oaks.
QHercHs aQaGtca. which bear transplanting, and
grow rapidly than any other sort aud though
called water oaks. they make such vigorous growth
m places far rom being watcry that | have meas
ured stunps of some that had been planted only
twenty years pure white SAND which abouuds
in this town. which over twenty inches in d.
ameter. the growth having averaged fully an inch
year. This variety of oak makes excellent fuel
as we'll timber. though il is not quite equal
20 1--we oak for either Another sort called
willow oak, Queycas FhCllOs. Is considerably
used for street ue's, and really very
pretty, its long, narrow leaves resembling some
kinds OF willow. There is also evergreen black
lack oak Osercus tgragined which is almost worth
less at the North but Is here of our best fuel
trees where a durable fire Is required For quick
fire open fireplace, there is no fuel IN the world
that equals what call "hghtwood," that Is, the
pine wood we'll filed with pitch Two inmates
from the scratching of match and placing the
finely split wood upon the fre-dOgs. suffice to pro-
cuce a roaring fame. glowing through the room and
ont upon the night most delightful sight to look
upon from without OF within doors.
Bat did not To speak If timber for domestic
a. mach as for commercial purposes. In this sup
pose the long-leaf pinc takes the lead OF ali the
world for quantity, quality and value. Yet there
nre other sorts VIII oh only need such timber-work-
fup Ia Me- l,ng bv 10 rlOu19ni rO
prove what immense wealth lies dormant IN South
ern forests. Yet these valuable timber trees are be-
ing ruthessly de- royed wherever some vandal
wants plant patch Of cotton. corn or tobacco.
The alleged reason why tine great American cY-
press Cupressas distichiG, is not worked Is that
cypress logs almost sure to watcr-soak and sink
If allowed 20 remain more than few days ail0at
They sometimes RATED between pine logs. and
sometimes the ends are covered with pitch TO pre-
vent the water ering that way.
Although this exceed ngly valuable timber
abouuds upon all Southern rivers the coast, the
lumber is very rarely mills offered IN
market except the form OF shingles for which
this timber II the best thar have IN the Atlantic
States. II is also most excellent for 5 ding
or any other outside work, and would be far better
than the hard pine for all inside work, and IN one
respect better than white pine, for 10 docs not swell
and shrink But Il will not come nto general use
however plentiful the in their habtas, OWING
60 the difficulty of getting them out, As the best
trees are always found in swampy places, neither
navigable nor teamabe and when the timber
getter succeeds IN putting hIs logs aioat, they
liable 10 disappear IN deep. stick fast IN shOal,
water. Cypress shin gle-makers often back the
blocks or their shingles long distances to reach
cart OF boat. And il is only because men are will
ing 10 work for bare Subsistence that shingles are
sold AT such low prices that is at 50 TO ~ thou
sand bv count, and abont twenty-five inches
long so that 900 Will square llOxlO feet OF
roof and u ~ so durable that tight roofs tty years
old are not uncommon.
WEALTH N CYFRESs TREES.
II some ingenious lumberman can contrive how
20 avail himself of the wealth that Is stored up IN
the cypress trees IN tine South, without making
heavy expenditure TO obtain II, he will become
great millionaire, and confer vast benefits upon
millions of ms fellow-men permanent railway,
such a. lunbermen have laid down IN many places
I'm the pine woods, will not answer in the cypIess
swanps because teams cannot be used TO bring the
logs TO the rails and the distractions IN the way of
moving them By hand-power appear absolutely IN
surnountable. Besides tie cut stunps anu standing
frees In the way of lOg-rong. there Is still
greater obstruction in the way, TO say nothing OF
the three or four feet of mud aud around the
stumps. The grand difficulty is IN what are called
-cypress knees" These are excrescences. warts.
that grow from the roots and stand up a foot
or two high around the tree. and fire.
onenflv foot or more in diameter. and
exceedingly strong and difficult 10 detach from
the roots. particularly when two feet under muddy
wafer Freauently the largest Of these knees
hollow and are put 10 various uses BY the fancy
woods people have often seen them used for well
Iuctats kee-htves asb-leaches and occasionally a