LOBLOLLY OR NORTH CAROLINA PINE. 



PHYSIOGRAPHY OF COASTAL PLAIN AND PIEDMONT PLATEAU 



REGIONS. 



In order to understand the distribution of the loblolly pine in North 

 Carolina, its growth under various conditions and the systems of man- 

 agement best adapted to them, it is necessary to have a clear idea of the 

 topography and other general physical characteristics of the Coastal 

 Plain and of the eastern portions of the Piedmont Plateau regions. 



THE COASTAL PLAIN REGION. 



The coastal plain region of North Carolina extends inland from 

 the coast for a distance of one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles, 

 and has an aggregate area approximating 24,000 square miles. Its sur- 

 face is that of a gently undulating plain of slight elevation (10 to 50 feet 

 above sea level) and nearly level eastward, becoming more elevated 

 (300 to 500 feet) and rolling along its western border. In the neighbor- 

 hood of the coast, where the drainage is insufficient to remove the rain- 

 fall rapidly, there are extensive areas of lowland or swamp, with clear, 

 slowly flowing, or stagnant water. These are mostly forest covered. 

 Westward the fall permits a more thorough drainage and the swamps 

 are largely restricted to narrow strips of alluvial land contiguous to 

 the streams which have muddy, rapidly flowing water when the streams 

 head beyond the costal plain, and. clear, slow-flowing water when the 

 streams head within the coastal plain. These swamps of the muddy 

 streams extend in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction through 

 the entire coastal plain. The total swamp area of the coastal plain 

 region in North Carolina aggregates nearly 4,600 square miles. 



The upland soils of the coastal plain are unconsolidated sands, sandy 

 loams, silts and loams, and over limited areas stiff clays. To the north 

 of the Neuse River loams and heavier soils are the more widely distrib- 

 uted upland soils; to the south of this river the soils are generally of a 

 sandy type. The water table during the growing season is seldom as 

 much as 20 feet below the surface, except in the tier of counties which 

 lies just east of the Piedmont and in the sandy and hilly region of 

 Moore, Cumberland, Richmond, and the adjoining counties. The soils 

 in the swamps, except those of alluvial origin, are prevailingly of the 

 same general textures as those of the uplands, but with a mucky or peaty 

 top soil, or peaty throughout. The soils of the alluvial swamps border- 

 ing the large streams, which have their headwaters beyond the coastal 

 plain region, are silty with a varying admixture of vegetable matter. 



The soils of the coastal plain which are occupied by loblolly pine are 

 practically all available for farming with the exception of the sand 

 dunes on the banks and some of the river swamps which are subject to 

 periodic and deep flooding. Many of the best loblolly pine soils require 

 artificial drainage before they can be profitably farmed. There is little 



