NEW EIVER BASIN. 77 



Soil. The mountain slopes have a light porous loam; the lowlands have a 

 red clayey loam. 



Agricultural value. About 1,200 acres are adapted to mixed farming. 



Timber trees. Chestnut, 20 per cent; chestnut oak, 8 per cent; white oak, 

 10 per cent; red oak, 6 per cent; black oak, 5 per cent; cucumber, 2 per cent; 

 gum, 3 per cent; birch, 3 per cent; maple, 5 per cent; hemlock, 3 per cent; linn, 

 4 per cent; white pine, 1 per cent; other species, 30 per cent. 



Yield. hog timber, 7,008 M feet B. M.; small wood, 63,800 cords. The 

 best log timber is worth from $1 to $2 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. The nearest railroad point is 15 miles from the remotest part 

 of this tract by a rough and hilly wagon road. The mountain slopes are brushy 

 but otherwise not difficult to log. 



Fire. Fires have been frequent and severe, and have killed about half of 

 the forest. Much of the log timber has been destroyed and new growth has 

 been prevented. 



Second growth. On the mountains deficient because of fire, but some isolated 

 wood lots in the lowlands have a ver}^ good stand of oak and chestnut. 



Undergrowth. Brushy with sprouts, seedlings, and shrubs. 



Reprodtiction. Seedlings and sprouts start freelj^ and are generally killed 

 by fire. 



Rate of growth Medium to rapid, according to soil and moisture. 



Water power. Small and inconstant. 



Ownership. Most of the holdings are local and small. 



Occupancy. About 15 families are living on this tract. 



Prices of lamd. Mountain lands ar worth about $2 per acre; farm lands, 

 from $10 to $50. 



BRUSH CREEK BASIN (ALLEGHANY COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 17.50 square miles; cleared, 4.50 square miles; wooded, 13 

 square miles. 



Surface. Rolling to mountainous. 



Humus and litter. Nearly all consumed by the frequent fires. 



Soil. Light, owing to fire and wash. The mountain sides are loam, the 

 foothills clay, and the creek bottoms sandy. 



Agricultural value. Slight; corn and grass yield very light crops, except on 

 the mountains. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 60 per cent; white pine, 10 per cent; black pine, 3 per 

 cent; hemlock, 5 per cent; chestnut, 10 per cent; others, 12 per cent. 



Yield. hog timber, 14,720 M feet B. M.; small wood, 140,800 cords. 



