24 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Poplar has a wide distribution, but few timber trees of this species are 

 found together, although almost every hollow of the original forest contains 

 more or less timber trees. Buckeye, beech, birch, maple, cucumber, and linn 

 are most prev^alent on northward exposures, especially northwest of the Blue 

 Ridge. Shortleaf and pitch, or black, pine, and the hickories are most prevalent 

 southward along the lower slopes of the Blue Kidge. 



REFORESTATION. 



A remarkable feature of this forest is its reproductive power, which is 

 greater here than in any other region in the Eastern or Northern States. This 

 power of reproduction will enable the forester to secure a valuable stand without 

 much planting, and judicious cutting will, in most cases, be sufficient. 



The most promising species for rapid returns is white pine. It is found as 

 a timber tree over the whole tract, though less abundant on the southeastern 

 slope of the Blue Ridge. In the natural forest it rarely forms a pure stand but 

 is usually mixed with hard woods the most favorable condition for a good 

 quality of timber. It grows best in oak forests somewhat reduced by fire or 

 grazing and on land of intermediate elevation and moisture. 



Shortleaf pine is the most promising soft wood southeast of the crest of the 

 Blue Ridge. Witb the exception of climate the conditions favorable to the repro- 

 duction of the shortleaf are very similar to those required by the white pine. 

 The shortleaf has a marked preference for southern exposures and a mild climate, 

 and thus supplements in a ver}'^ desirable way the territory most favorable to the 

 white pine. The two thus supply the whole region with the most hardy, rapid 

 growing, and valuable pines east of the Rocky Mountains. 



It is notable that these species are holding the ground they now occupy under 

 great opposition. The competition between the hard woods and the pine seed- 

 lings is intense, and if it can be relieved these two pines promise to quickly use 

 their opportunity to make valuable timber. 



In the higher altitudes, where the climate and drainage are less favorable to 

 tree growth and access is difficult, the problem of profitable species will be hard 

 to solve. Red and white oak, yellow birch, cherry, white ash, and black spruce are 

 rivals there; the oaks prevail on the southward dry exposures, while on the north 

 slopes the spruce attempts to maintain exclusive colonies against the combined 

 efforts of the hard woods. Seedlings of spruce are abundant in the mosg which 

 commonly forms the ground cover under these species. 



Here is an inviting field to determine whether some other spruce, such as 

 the Norway, might be introduced successfully. But in applying forestry these 

 are remote problems. 



