6 ON THE TIMBER LANDS TRAVERSED BY A 
grass Region of the central part of the State, and thence 
across the high mountains, deep valleys, and wild ravines of 
the eastern portion. Almost every variety of topographical 
and geological condition to be found in the State is met with 
on this journey, and the corresponding effects of such changes. 
upon forest growths can be seen and studied. 
It should be borne in mind, however, in reading this report, 
that my observations were confined to a very narrow belt on 
either side of the line of travel; and that, while I brought to 
my assistance facts obtained from elaborate and minute study 
in various parts of the State, nevertheless I may have erred 
at times from having been necessarily confined to so narrow 
a strip of country. Conditions may exist at one point which 
are exceptional rather than general, and which, a few miles. 
distant, would cease to exist altogether. Erroneous reason- 
ings may thus arise, which could not be avoided under the 
circumstances; though, in preparing data, great care has been 
taken to avoid material error. 
Another source of possible error in such a report as this, to. 
which attention should be called at the outset, arises in deal- 
ing with comparative heights above drainage. In a rapid trip: 
over so great an extent of country it is impossible to keep a 
stationary barometer to correct the fluctuations of the instru- 
ments carried; so that, in many instances, heights had to be 
more or less estimated. Such a source of error was unfor- 
tunate: for a difference of level of a few feet will often make 
a material difference in the growth of timbers, and interfere 
with comparative work. | 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
In passing from the extreme ‘southwestern to the extreme 
southeastern part of Kentucky, almost a complete change in 
forest growth will be noted. This singular change—a great 
part of which I cannot account for at all at present—begins 
first to be noticed, along the belt covered by this report, in 
Madison county, in that cluster of hills of which “ Big Hill” 
is the centre and the most conspicuous. An exception to 
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