SOUTH FORK OF HOLSTON RIVER BASIN (SOUTHERN TRIBUTARIES). 87 



Undergrowth. Dense thickets of laurel line the ravines, but the laurel brush 

 does not seriously interfere with logging operations, although it is a serious hin- 

 drance to reproduction. 



Beproduction. Reproduction is free wherever there has been close cutting 

 or severe burning. 



Rate of groioth. Rapid, especially in the lower portion of the valle3\ 



Water jpoiD&r. There are numerous mill sites along Beaver Dam Creek. 

 Although the stream is not large, the fall is so rapid as to furnish much power 

 by the use of turbine wheels. 



Ownershi]}. The woodland is mostly owned by nonresidents. The agricul- 

 tural land is divided into small tracts held by resident owners. 



Occupancy. Outside of the manufacturing villages of Damascus, Sutherland, 

 and Crandall there are about 80 resident families. 



Prices of land. The best agricultural lands are valued at $50 per acre, and 

 some of the best timber lands are worth $500 per acre, but much of the mountain 

 land is not worth more than $2 per acre. 



LAUREL BLOOMERY DISTRICT (jOHNSON COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. This tract is bounded on the northwest b}" the crest of Iron 

 Mountain, on the east by the crest of Stone Mountain, on the north by the 

 divide separating the basin of Laurel Creek from that of White Top Creek, and 

 on the southwest by the divide between this basin and that of Little Doe River. 



Area. Total, 40 square miles; cleared, 16 square miles; wooded, 24 square 

 miles. 



Surface. The principal or southwestern portion of this basin contains about 

 5 square miles of undulating and rolling land. The remainder is hilly and 

 mountainous. 



Soil. The central portion of the principal valley has much limestone in its 

 composition and is a reddish clayey loam, naturally very fertile. The soil of the 

 mountain slopes is derived from schists, gneiss, and quartzite, and is a light 

 loam of medium fertility. 



Agricultural value. The limestone lands produce excellent crops of grass 

 and are principally devoted to grazing. The pastures of the valley have been 

 considerably enlarged by clearings on the mountain sides and even large portions 

 of the mountain crest are being grazed. About 10 per cent of the whole is 

 adapted to agriculture. 



Timber trees. White oak, 15 per cent; red oak, 10 per cent; chestnut oak, 

 10 per cent; white pine, 8 per cent; hemlock, 10 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; 

 other species, 27 per cent. 



