SECTION FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO POUND GAP. 13 
of growth. They remain of the finest quality till they cease 
altogether, and their line of growth often forms a sharp and 
well-defined band around the hill. 
As would naturally be expected, the timbers characteristic 
of a mountain top are not found directly on top of the moun- 
tain, but a few feet below the top, on the brow. The reason 
is, that on the level top there is usually a considerable depth 
of detritus and decayed vegetable matter, more or less moist, 
which gives to the timbers somewhat the characteristics of 
lowland timbers. 
SPECIAL TIMBERS. 
Reference has already been made to the peculiar, and, in 
many respects, remarkable distribution of pines in Kentucky. 
They are not found further west, in the timber belt here 
spoken of, than the Big Hill region, in Madison and Garrard! 
counties; and the same counties are almost the northern limit: 
of pine growth likewise, though scattering ones may be found 
on Muldraugh’s Hill, still farther north. The pines met with 
are principally of the P. #ztzs or yellow species, though con- 
siderable numbers of P. s7gzda or pitch pine, P. strobus or 
white pine, and P. /aeda or loblolly pine, are also met with. 
The question presented by this pine growth is, why is it lim- 
ited so absolutely and arbitrarily to the southeastern part of 
the State? Is the reason to be found in the geological forma- 
tion of that part of the State, or in its topographical nature, 
or in some problem connected with the original appearance 
of the pines in the Kentucky forests? As I have already said, 
the reason cannot be a geological one, for the exact geologi- 
cal counterpart of this section of the State can be found in 
Western Kentucky, where there are absolutely no pines. 
The true cause must then be sought in the other two alter- 
natives—topographical nature of the country and method of 
original appearance and distribution—and I think that these 
two causes supplemented each other in producing the present 
peculiarities of pine growth. In order to fully comprehend 
the matter, let these facts be kept in mind: 
182. 
