104 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



FISH SPRING DISTRICT ( JOHNSON COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. The crest of Iron Mountain on the north and west, Doe Mountain 

 on the southeast, and Watauga River on the south. 



Area. Total, 24.50 square miles; cleared, 8 square miles; wooded, 16.50 

 square miles. 



Surface. Rolling to mountainous. 



Soil. In the lowlands the soil is principally red clay, derived from limestone 

 and the wash from the mountains. On the mountain sides it is a porous loam, 

 derived from gneiss, schist, and quartzite. 



Agricultural value. Grass and corn are the best crops, but the hill lands are 

 soon worn out by erosion and either are left bare or become covered with broom 

 grass. 



Timber trees. White oak, 20 per cent; red oak, 10 per cent; black oak, 5 per 

 cent; cucumber, 3 per cent; chestnut, 18 per cent; linn, 2 per cent; chestnut oak, 

 10 per cent; other species, 32 per cent. 



Yield. \jo^ timber, 18,000 M feet B. M.; small wood, 126,720 cords. 



Demand. The best log timber brings from $1 to |3 per thousand feet on 

 the stump, according to accessibility. 



Accessibility. The Virginia and Southwestern Railway lies within 6 miles 

 of the remotest part of this tract, but the wagon roads leading through the valley 

 are rough and hilly. 



Fire. Fires have been frequent on the mountain ridges and the forest is much 

 depleted, and a large part of the young growth has been destroyed. 



Second growth. The stand of saplings is deficient, owing to the frequency of 

 the fires. The seedlings and sprouts of timber trees form a large proportion of the 

 undergrowth, although in the ravines on north slopes there is laurel to offer a 

 serious obstruction to logging operations. 



Reproduction. Reproduction is free, except as retarded by brush or by fires. 



Bate of growth. Medium. 



Water power. Limited. The best mill site is on a constant-spring stream 10 

 feet wide and 8 inches deep, rising about 500 feet above the river on the mountain 

 side. 



Ownership. Most of the holdings are owned by local residents. 



Occupancy. About 40 families are now living on this tract. 



Prices of land. Mountain land is valued at %\ to |5 per acre; farm lands, 

 from $5 to $25 per acre. 



