60 THE SOUTHEBN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



ground. The ridges have an abundance of azalea, dogwood, hazel, blackberry, 

 and huckleberry. 



Reproduction. Reproduction would be free if too much brush were not left 

 after cutting. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 



Water power. Limited. Horse Creek is inconstant and there are no very 

 favorable sites for reservoirs. 



Ownership. Several large tracts of grazing land on Pond Mountain are held 

 by nonresidents. Most of the area is divided into small holdings which are 

 owned by farmers. 



Occupancy. About 200 families are now living on this tract. 



Prices of land. From $10 to $50 per acre. 



HELTON CREEK DISTRICT (gRAYSON COUNTY, VA.). 



Boundaries. The divides inclosing the portion of the drainage of Helton Creek 

 mapped on the Abingdon and Wytheville topographic sheets. 



Area. Total, 39.50 square miles; cleared, 19.25 square miles; wooded, 20.25 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hill}'^ to mountainous. 



Soil. Loam; fertile in the valleys, but medium on the hills. 



Ag7'icultural value. Grass does well everywhere on newly cleared ground; 

 corn is a fair crop, but the hills are rapidly eroded where corn is planted. The 

 alluvial bottoms of the lower portions of the creek are very productive. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 60 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; other species, 20 

 per cent. 



Yield. Ijog timber, 38,611 M feet B. M.; small wood, 257,060 cords. 



Demand. Local onl}", at $1 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. The nearest railway points, Chilhowie and Damascus, are 25 to 

 30 miles distant by a rough and hilly road. The timber in this valley will not 

 find a market until railroads are built much nearer. 



Fire. ^Only a few of the higher ridges have been seriously burned; the 

 numerous clearings are a great protection against fire. 



Second growth. Deficient; due to too much grazing, yet there are some very 

 good stands. 



Undergrowth. Along streams are dense laurel patches, but the ridges are 

 usually fairly free from underbrush. 



Rejyroductimi. Poor, owing to overgrazing. Seedlings and sprouts spring 

 up quickly after close cutting if cattle are kept out and there are no fires. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 



