Ajypidachiaii Mountain and Plateau Soils. 91 



APPALAl HIAX MOUxMAIX AND ( IMBEKLA\D PLATEAU SOILS. 



Two large series have been encountered in the Appalachian 

 Mountain and Cumberland Plateau, viz, the Porters series, de- 

 rived from igneous rocks, and the De Kalb series, derived from 

 sandstone and shales. The Porters series is analagous in every 

 way, except in physiographic position, to the Cecil series of the 

 Piedmont Plateau. The mountainous character of the country in 

 which these soils are found renders them difficult of cultivation, 

 and the cultivated fields are small in extent. The soils are also at 

 a much higher elevation, and so are influenced more or less by 

 different climatic conditions. On the more level and less elevated 

 areas wheat, corn, rye, and barley, and some fruit, particularly 

 apples, are produced. At a medium elevation and under suitable 

 conditions of slope and exposure fruit is the principal crop. Graz- 

 ing of cattle is one of the most important industries. The soils 

 seem eminently adapted to fruit culture, and this industry is 

 rapidly extending and is destined to take on much larger j^ropor- 

 tions. 



PORTERS SERIES. 



Porters stony loam. — Grayish-yellow sandy loam, 10 inches deep, 

 mixed with fragments of sandstone and other rocks. Subsoil 

 grades from reddish-brown clay loam to a stiff red clay in lower 

 depths, and contains some coarse sand and a large percentage of 

 sandstone fragments. Rolling valley lands and gentle slopes of 

 mountains. Soil is colluvial, derived from wash from mountains, 

 Vjut subsoil is derived from decomposition of underlying rocks. 

 Produces good crops — wheat, corn, 'grass, tobacco, rye, and apples. 



12 3 4 



Soil (9) 25 30 29 1-1 



Subsoil (7) 17 25 27 26 



Acres. 



Alamance County, X. C "4. 960 



Cobb County, Ga n 2, 020 



Acres. 



Hickory, N. C 25,152 



Statesville, N. C 8, 130 



Porters sand. — Grayish-yellow coarse sand, 10 inches in depth, 

 overlying coarse sand and masses of broken rock. Fraginents of 

 rock and huge bowlders scattered on the surface. Occupies 



('Mapped as Herndon stony loam, ^v-hich name will not hereafter be used. 



