92 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



cleared. The forest contains 841,556 M feet B. M. of log timber and 5,279,100 

 cords of small wood. 



The hard woods, in which the oaks and chestnut predominate, form a mixed 

 forest on most of the area; some ravines carry hemlock almost exclusively, and 

 on some of the ridges white pine is one of the principal timber trees. Spruce 

 is found almost exclusivel}' in some high mountain groups, while beech rules 

 on high mountains and on the crests of some ridges. The proportions of species 

 are as follows: 



Proportions of species in Watauga River basin. 



Per cent. 



Oaks 40 



Hemlock 5 



Ash 1 



Spruce 1 



Linn 3 



Other species 7 



Locust 1 



Chestnut 20 



Cucumber 1 



Black gum 1 



Maple 4 



Black pine 1 



White pine 5 



Poplar 1 



Buckeye 2 



Beech 2 



Hickory 2 



Birch - 3 



Nearly all of the forest has been or is being culled of its most valuable 

 timber, and is rapidly becoming inferior by the predominance of old and defective 

 trees and undesirable species. Fires are preventing a good growth on large 

 portions, although they are seldom so severe as to kill much timber. 



Vigorous sprouts, seedlings, and saplings abound on old cuttings and burns, 

 and prevention of fire and some judicious thinning would soon develop a forest 

 that would justify transportation companies in building railroads to haul its 

 products to market. 



NORTH END OF BUFFALO MOUNTAIN (WASHINGTON AND CARTER COUNTIES, TENN.). 



Boundaries. On the northeast and south, the foot of the mountain; on the 

 west, the Watauga-Nolichucky divide. 



Area. Total, 10 square miles; cleared, 1 square mile; wooded, 9 square miles. 

 Surface. Mountainous. 



