58 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Proportion of species in New River basin Continued. 



Per cent. 

 Beech 1 



Birch 3 



Maple 3 



Hickory 1 



Locust 1 



Black pine 1 



Other species 8 



All the forest is inferior in condition, being either culled, fire scarred, or full 

 of old and defective trees, while a dense undergrowth usually covers the steep 

 slopes. 



The condition of these forests would improve readily under scientific manage- 

 ment, as valuable species are abundant, reproduce easily, and grow rapidly 

 wherever they have an opportunity. The outlying isolated wood lots, surrounded 

 by cleared land and held by thoughtful farmers, are noticeably in better condition 

 than the larger wild areas in the mountains. 



BIG LAUREL CREEK DISTRICT (aSHE COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. The divides inclosing the portion of Big Laurel Creek basin 

 north of a line drawn eastward from Payn Gap. 



Area. Total, 14.75 square miles; cleared, 5.25 square miles; wooded, 9.50 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. In the coves, dark, fertile loam; on the ridges, lighter but good 

 grazing land. 



Agricultural value. This land produces very good crops of corn and other 

 grains when newly cleared, but owing to the steepness of the slopes is best 

 adapted to grazing, except for about 11 square miles, which are best suited to 

 timber. 



Timher trees. Poplar, 3 per cent; oaks, 50 per cent; maple, 5 per cent; 

 hemlock, 3 per cent; linn, 2 per cent; buckeye, 2 per cent; other species, 35 per 

 cent. 



Yield. hog timber, 26,080 M feet B. M.; small wood, 118,400 cords. 



Demand. This valley is so remote and inaccessible that no timber has been 

 taken from it for the general market except some figured wood. A railway up 

 the New River Valley would probably make this timber worth from 50 cents to 

 $3 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. At present this tract is nearly 20 miles from railroad, by an 

 almost impassable wagon road. The land is ver}' hilly and brushy, and logging 

 would be very expensive. 



