62 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



FOX CREEK BASIN (gRAYSON COUNTY, VA.). 



Area. Total, 30 square miles; cleared, 11.75 square miles; wooded, 18.25 square 

 miles. 



Surface. Rolling to mountainous. 



Soil. Red loam, derived from granite, and usually very fertile. 



Agricultural value. Grass, grain, and fruits do very well on the slopes. 

 About 8 square miles of this basin are adapted to diversified farming. 



Timber trees. Chestnut, 25 per cent; white oak, 10 per cent; red oak, 15 per 

 cent; chestnut oak, 10 per cent; hemlock, 8 per cent; spruce, 1 per cent; birch, 2 

 per cent; linn, 5 per cent; maple, 6 per cent; other species, 18 per cent. 



Yield. IjO^ timber, 39,520 M feet B. M.; small wood, 268,000 cords. 



Demand. The best log timber brings about $1 per thousand feet on the 

 stump. 



Accessibility. The center of this tract is about 10 miles from the railroad, 

 by a rough and hilly wagon road. The wooded land is generally very steep and 

 rocky. 



Fire. Frequent light fires have overrun the ridges, seriously injuring the 

 forest. 



Second growth. Occasional areas have a dense stand of saplings, but in general 

 the second growth is deficient. 



Undergrowth. Except on the ridges there is a dense stand of laurel, azalea, 

 hazel, dogwood, catbriar, and huckleberry. 



Reproduction. On clean cuttings that have not been burned there is a dense 

 stand of seedlings. In some cOves that have been intermittently pastured there 

 are many young maples, but in general the amount of brush and the frequency 

 of fire are unfavorable to reproduction. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 



Water power. Abundant on the lower portion of the stream. 



Occupancy. About 130 families are now living in this basin. 



Prices of land. From $2 to |30 per acre. 



GUFFEYS CREEK BASIN (gRAYSON COUNTY, VA.). 



Area. Total, 11.50 square miles; cleared, 4.75 square miles; wooded, 6.75 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. Light, granitic loam. 



Agricultural value. Slight, the land is too steep and liable to wash. It is 

 well adapted to fruit, however, and much of it makes good pasturage. About 2 

 square miles are adapted to diversified farming. 



