122 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Fire. Occasionally light fires occur, but little damage has been done to 

 mature timber. On the ridges and southern exposures the}^ keep the forest in 

 ver}' poor condition. 



Second growth. Saplings are abundant, except on the ridges and southern 

 slopes. 



Undergrowth. Man}" of the ravines are lined with dense laurel thickets, but 

 in general the brush is light. 



Reproduction. Free, except as affected by fire and grazing. 



Water power. Limited; the creek is not large, but is fairly constant and 

 very rapid. 



Occupancy. Four families are living in this basin. 



Prices of land. From $2 to $5 per acre. 



SOUTH INDIAN CREEK DISTRICT (UNICOI COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. On the north, the Rocky Fork divide; on the east, the Clear 

 Branch divide; and on the south and west, the State line. 



Area. Total, 22 square miles; cleared, 7.10 square miles; wooded, 14.90 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hillj'^ to mountainous. 



Soil. A light-colored loam, derived from gneiss and schist. The alluvial 

 portions are very fertile. 



Agricultural value. About 1,000 acres, having a gentle slope, are well adapted 

 to agriculture; the remainder, though generally fertile, has too steep a slope. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 50 per cent; gum, 10 per cent; maple, 10 per cent; 

 linn, 10 per cent; chestnut, 10 per cent; other species, 10 per cent. 



Yield. \jo^ timber, 32,432 M feet B. M.; small wood, 179,000 cords. 



Demand. The best log timber brings $2 per thousand feet on the stump 

 and $5 to $6 per thousand feet at the mill. 



Accessibility. Wagon roads lead through each of the main vallej's. They 

 are very rough and when the creek is high are impassable. The center of the 

 tract is about 18 miles from the railroad. The slopes are steep and brushy, and 

 logging is difiicult. 



Fire. The ridges and south slopes are frequently burned, and these 

 portions are in poor condition. In the north coves the damage has been 

 slight. 



Second grcmfh.^On the north slopes the stand of saplings is in general 

 excellent, but on the ridges and south slopes it is deficient. 



Undergrou)th. Laurel is abundant, especially on the slopes of Sampson 

 Mountain; elsewhere the brush is generally light. 



