68 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Second growth. On many of the wood lots there is an excellent stand of 

 saplings. On the mountains the second growth is very deticient. 



Undergrowth. Light. 



Reproduction. Naturally free. 



Rate of growth. Rapid, except on the higher mountains and ridges. 



Watei' power. A moderate amount could be developed on Peach Bottom Creek 

 and a great amount on New River. 



Ownership. Local. 



Oceupancy. About 200 families are living in this district, including the village 

 of Independence, the county seat. 



Prices of land. From $5 to $50 per acre. 



BRIDLE CREEK DISTRICT (gRAYSON COUNTY, VA.). 



Boundaries. On the north. Buck Mountain; on the east, Peach Bottom divide; 

 on the south. New River; on the west, Little Fox Creek divide. 



Area. Total, 33.75 square miles; cleared, 19 square miles; wooded, 14.75 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. Red clayey loam. 



Agricultural value. Varied. All the land is productive when first cleared, but 

 the ridge lands are quickly impoverished. Some of the lowlands, especially the 

 narrow, alluvial bottoms, have retained their fertilit}" remarkably well, having 

 been cropped many years, and are still profitable under corn and grass. About 

 6,000 acres are well adapted to mixed farming. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 45 per cent; chestnut, 15 per cent; hemlock, 3 per cent; 

 white pine, 1 per cent; black pine, 1 per cent; hickory, 2 per cent; gum, 2 per 

 cent; maple, 1 per cent; other species, 30 ]5er cent. 



Yield. \jOg timber, 12,832 M feet B. M. ; small wood, 162,880 cords. 



Demand. Up to the present time the price has been %\. per thousand feet on 

 the stump, but the proposed railway will undoubtedly increase this price. 



Accessibility. The soft woods could be floated down New River, but for the 

 hard woods there is practically no market, as the timber would have to be hauled 

 over 30 miles by a rough and hilly wagon road. Many of the slopes are steep, 

 but there are no unusual difficulties in logging. 



Fire. The forest is so broken by clearings that fires could be prevented 

 with ease. The prevalent custom of burning woodlands seems to be dying out. 



Second gnrwth. Some fine stands of saplings are seen on the wood lots of 

 the lowlands, but on Buck Mountain they are limited to the few coves that have 

 escaped severe burning. 



