84 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



HOLSTON DISTRICT (WASHINGTON AND SMYTH COUNTIES, VA.). 



Boundaries. On the north, the wagon road leading from Damascus to Holston 

 Mill; on the east, the South Fork of Holston River and Como Creek divide; on 

 the south, the summit of Iron Mountain; on the west. Laurel Creek. 



Area. TotdA, 76.75 square miles; cleared, 24.75 square miles; wooded, 52 



square miles. 



Surface. Rolling to mountainous. 



Soil. The soil of the lower lands has been derived largely from limestone, and 

 is a red clayey loam; that of the mountain sides is derived largely from quartzite 

 and schists, and is a light porous loam. 



Agricultural value. In general, slight; the mountain side is too steep, and even 

 much that has been cultivated is now badly washed and worthless. Some 12,000 

 acres, however, are adapted to mixed farming. 



TiiTfiber trees. Oaks, 45 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; hemlock, 8 per cent; 

 white pine, 1 per cent; other species, 26 per cent. 



Yield. \iO^ timber,- 74,720 M feet B. M.; small wood, 392,040 cords. 



Demand. ^\\^ best of the remaining log timber is worth from $1 to $3 per 

 thousand feet on the stump, according to accessibility. 



Accessibility. The remotest part of this tract is about 15 miles, by a poor and 

 rough wagon road, from the Norfolk and Western Railway at Chilhowie, Va., or 

 from the Virginia-Carolina Railway at Damascus, Va. 



Fire. Light fires have run over most of this tract, but severe fires killing the 

 log timber have been exceptional. The forest is very poor because of these fires. 



Second growth. The stand of saplings is, in general, deficient because of the 

 frequency of fire. , 



Undergrowth. In general the tract is very brushy, with sprouts, seedlings, and 

 shrubs. 



Rejproduction. Naturally free, but the abundant brush and the frequent 

 firep prevent a dense stand of seedlings. 



Rate of growth. Medium. 



Water power. There are favorable mill sites on the South Fork of Holston 

 River and on Laurel Creek; elsewhere there is only power enough for local 

 grist and saw mills. 



Occupancy. About 70 families are now living on this tract. 



Prices of land. Mountain land is worth from $1 to $3 per acre; fann land, 

 from $5 to $40 per acre. 



