14. ON THE TIMBER LANDS TRAVERSED BY A 
1. The pines of Kentucky (hemlock is excepted for the 
present, and will be spoken of later) require a very dry soil, 
and for this reason are confined to the rock ledges of the high 
mountain tops, or to the dry shales of the lower levels. For 
this reason fzves cannot be distributed by the carrying power of 
water, as in that case the seeds would be deposited in low, - 
wet places, where growth would not take place. 
2. In a general way, pines gradually increase in numbers 
from where they are first met with on the north to the south- 
ern border of the State, and from where they are first met 
with in the west to the eastern part of the State. This state- 
ment is subject to some modification on account of variations 
in height of the hills in this part of Kentucky, to be explained 
presently. 
3. Pines are distributed over slopes of hills and mountains 
facing south and southeast. 
A little reflection will show that only one hypothesis will 
satisfactorily explain all these peculiar facts in relation to the 
present growth and distribution of the pine; and that ts, that: 
the pine forests of Kentucky were introduced at a compara- 
tively late date, and spread, from the vast pine forest and mountain 
growths of North Carolina, to the south and southeast of this 
section. Inasmuch as they could not have been distributed 
by water, for the reason already given, we must look to the 
wind as the motor power in their distribution. I was informed 
by all the citizens questioned on the subject that the prevail- 
ing winds in Kentucky are from the south and west. Of 
course, it is apparent at once that the pine seeds are carried 
north from North Carolina by the prevailing southern winds, 
while the western winds are almost a perfect barrier to con- 
fine them to the eastern part of the State. The trees work 
westward very slowly against the prevailing winds; and when 
the wind does blow from the east, it is liable to be accom- 
panied by rain, which would destroy its power to carry the 
seeds to any great distance. If the pine seeds were carried 
by the winds from the south, of course they would be lodged 
on the south sides of the hills and mountains, and the pines 
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