108 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous, excepting narrow bottoms along Watauga 

 River and the larger creeks. 



Soil. The soil is derived from gneiss and granite, and is a porous loam, 

 very fertile when new. 



Agricultural value. When first cleared the land is very productive under 

 grain, grass, and vegetables, but often it is so steep as to waste rapidl3^ About 

 14 square miles are adapted to agriculture. 



Timber trees. Chestnut, 20 per cent; hemlock, 12 per cent; red oak, 5 per 

 cent; white oak, 10 per cent; chestnut oak, 5 per cent; white pine, 4 per cent; 

 ash, 3 per cent; linn, 3 per cent; yellow birch, 3 per cent; black birch, 3 per 

 cent; sugar maple, 3 per cent; red maple, 3 per cent; hickory, 2 per cent; cucum- 

 ber, 3 per cent; beech, 4 per cent; gum, 2 per cent; cherry, 1 per cent; poplar, 

 2 per cent; locust, 1 per cent; other species, 11 per cent. 



Yield. l^og timber, 220,800 M feet B. M.; small wood, 716,800 cords. 



Demand. Slight, except for figured woo(js and the best poplar, cherry, 

 walnut, and ash. Only in the lower portion of the valley can common timber 

 be cut for the general market, elsewhere the demand is local only. 



Accessibility. Butler, on the Virginia and Southwestern Railway, is 10 miles 

 from the nearest point of this tract. The wagon road is very rough and hilly, 

 and the numerous fords are often impassable. 



Fire. Light fires are common, but severe fires are rare. Most of those set 

 are intended to improve pasturage, to aid in gathering chestnuts, or for some 

 reason of similar importance. 



Second growth. Abundant, except on the higher and drier ridges and south 

 slopes. 



Undergrowth. In general brush is abundant, especially along ravines and 

 north slopes. 



Reproduction. Chestnut and oak come in freel}^ after cutting, if protected 

 from fire. White pine and ash are promising for the new forest. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 



Water jpower. Abundant on Watauga River. 



Occupancy. About 250 families are living on this tract. 



Prices of land. Mountain land brings from $2 to $5 per acre; farm land, 

 from $10 to $30. 



WESTERN TRIBUTARY BASINS OF DOE RIVER ABOVE ROAN MOUNTAIN STATION (CARTER 



COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. On the north, the Western North Carolina Rail way ; on the 

 east and south, the North Carolina State line; and on the west, the western 

 divide of this basin. 



