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The Forestry Service supplies landowners with pine seedlings and through diligent efforts have planted thousands of acres of once-barren cutover land. This picture shows method of planting seedlings with mechanical planter.
Power Company, electric power for the cities of the coastal area. Natural gas is supplied bv United Gas Corporation. Unlimited water supplies from underground sources include artesian wells, natural springs, and natural shallow underground reservoirs, all of excellent quality and extremely low in mineral content. There are also manv fresh water streams and creeks.
The 1950 census shows the countv’s population at 11,891. Estimated 1958 figures were 13,000, with urban centers having 6,300 and suburban areas about 7,000 persons.
Timber is the primary natural resource of this county. Of its 310,400 acres, 249,300 or 80.3% are classified as timber lands. On this acreage there is a growing stock of 74,400,000 board feet—43,600,000 feet of softwood (pine), and 30,800,000 feet of hardwood. Standing timber is valued at 220.800,000 board feet (166,400,000 board feet of pine and 54,400,000 board feet of hardwood). The above figures are taken from the Forest Survey Release
A beautiful picture is presented by acres of growing rice rolling and swelling like a great ocean of green as the stalks bend and sway in the breeze. Rice plantations are located in the central part of the county.
81 of the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Forest Services, I'. S. Department of Agriculture. The following quotation from page 9 of the aforementioned bulletin will indicate the probable future of these lands.
“In 1948 sum timber growth for the entire state (Mississippi) totalled 110 ft. per acre in soft wood tvpes and 92 board feet per acre in hardwood tvpes. Current annual ; 1957 1 net growth is 154 board feet in soft wood tvpes; 88 board feet in hardwood tvpes. Management practices leading to better stocking and lower mortality will, of course, result in measurably higher increases. The possibilities in this respect are suggested bv the increased growth in softwood tvpes between surveys. It has been conservatively estimated that the potential growth of Mississippi forest lands is 400 board feet per acre annually." It onlv 300 board teet of growth is attained in Hancock Countv on its 249,300 acres of forest lands, there will be a total growth of approximately 75 million feet per year—
A recent unusual occurrence at one of the larger ranches was the births of three sets of Brahford twins. This strain, a cross of Brahman and Hereford, thrives exceptionally well in the climate of Hancock County.
both pine and hardwood. At present prices this should be an annual dollar growth of approximately $1,500,000.
The forests are presently producing about 45,000 cords of pulpwood annually This yields about $2,000,000
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