WATAUGA EIVER BASIN. 107 



Surface. Hill}^ to mountainous. 



Soil. In the bottom of the valley the soil is derived largeh' from limestone 

 and is a reddish clayey loam; on the mountain slopes it is derived from gneiss and is 

 a porous, gray loam. 



Agricultural value. This valley is adapted to grazing; the grass does well until 

 the land is worn out either by continuous cropping and grazing or by erosion. 



Timhei' trees. On the east slope of Stone Mountain white pine constitutes about 

 40 per cent of the timber; elsewhere the composition is, approximatel}", oak, 30 

 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; hemlock, 6 per cent; white pine, 10 per cent: 

 other species, 34 per cent. 



Yield. \jog timber, 13,712 M feet B. M.; small wood, 109,600 cords. 



Demand. The best log timber (not figured) brings about $2 per thousand feet 

 on the stump. 



Accessibility. The Virginia and Southwestern Railwaj^ passes within 10 miles 

 of the remotest part of this tracty and poor wagon roads now reach every part 

 of the valley. 



Fire. Fires have been frequent on Stone Mountain, where the forest is in 

 poor condition because of them. The predominance of white pine there is due, 

 no doubt, largely to the prevalence of fire, as the thick bark of this species 

 protects the trunk from injury while other species are killed. Fires also prepare 

 favorable seed beds for the white-pine seeds. The remainder of the valley is 

 largel}'^ cleared and the woodlands near the cleared land are thus protected. 



Second growth. Deficient on Stone Mountain because of fire, but elsewhere 

 there are many good stands of saplings. 



Undergrowth. Generally light. 



Reproduction. Deficient because of fire and pasturage, otherwise it would be 

 free. 



Rate of gro'wth. Medium. 



Water poicer. Limited, as the stream is small and inconstant. 



Occupancy. About 60 families are now living in this basin. 



Prices of layid. Farms are worth from $10 to $40 per acre; mountain lands, 

 from $2 to $6 per acre, according to the timber and accessibility. 



SOUTHEKN TRIBUTARY BASINS OF AVATAUGA RIVER (WATAUGA COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. On the north, Watauga River and Brushy Fork; on the east, 

 the New River divide; on the south, the Watauga Countj^ line and the Elk Creek 

 divide; on the west, the Elk Creek divide. 



Area. Total, 86 square miles; cleared, 21 square miles; wooded, 65 square 

 miles. 



