64 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Rate of growth. ^^-^v^. 



Water power. Limited; the stream is not large, and it is ver}" inconstant. 

 Ownership. Nearly all the basin is divided into small holdings and is owned 

 by resident farmers. 



Occupancy. About 65 families are now living in this basin. 

 Prices of land. From $2 to $20 per acre. 



DELL DISTRICT (gRAYSON COUNTY, VA.). 



Boundaries. On the north, the crest of Iron Mountain; on the east, the 

 eastern boundary of the area mapped on the Wytheville topographic sheet; on 

 the south, New Kiver; on the west, the eastern divide of Knob Fork basin. 



Area. Total, 12 square miles; cleared, 6.50 square miles; wooded, 5.50 square 

 miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. Loam derived from gneiss and schists. 



Agricidtural value. Very little; when first cleared this land was generally 

 fertile, but it has been worked and eroded until now^ it is hardly worth cultivating. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 50 per cent; chestnut, 25 per cent; other species, 25 per 

 cent. 



Yield. Ijog timber, 8,640 M feet B. M.; small wood, 65,600 cords. 



Demand. Very little; the best timber brings about $1 per thousand feet on 

 the stump. It is too far from market. 



Accessibility. The nearest railroad point is Ivanhoe, about 15 miles b}^ very 

 poor road from the center of this tract. The new branch of the Norfolk and 

 Western Railway to Oldtown will open a better market. This land is so hilly 

 that logging will be diflScult. 



Fire. The forests of this tract are so isolated by clearings that fires are not 

 prevalent except on Iron Mountain. 



Second gro^vth. There are many good stands of saplings, but there are also 

 many woodlands that are closel}' pastured, and on these the second growth is 

 deficient. 



Undergrowth. Very light. 



Reproduction. Free, except for fire and grazing. 



Rate of growth. Medium. 



Water power. Limited, as the streams are small and inconstant, except on 

 New River, where very large cotton mills are being erected. 



Ownership. Local . 



Occupancy. About 35 families are living in this basin. 



Prices of land. From $5 to $25 per acre. 



