NOLICHUCKY RIVER BASIN. 127 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $5 to 140 per acre; woodland, at $3 



to 5. 



HOLLOW rOPLAR AND PIGEON ROOST CREEK BASINS (MITCHELL COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 32 square miles; cleared, 3 square miles; wooded, 29 square 

 miles; severely burned, 1 square mile. 



Surface. The surface is very rough. There are several small alluvial 

 bottoms along the streams, but the greater part of the area is very hilly and 

 much of it extremely mountainous and steep. 



Soils. The soils are loams, derived largely from gneiss or in part from 

 quartzite. Though generally deep, they are too coarse grained to be very pro- 

 ductive. In many cases they wash badly when cleared, unless carefully attended. 



Humus and litter. In nearly all the deep hollows at the heads of the streams 

 is a considerable accumulation of leaf mold. On the lower hills and on the drj^ 

 southern slopes this is often very scant, especially where it has been reduced b}" 

 fire or by excessive pasturage, which has broken the forest cover. 



Agricultural value. The land, where it is not too steep or sandy, produces 

 well. The staple crops are corn, grass, and apples, with some small grain. 



Tiriiher trees. Oak and chestnut form the greater part of the forests. With 

 these are associated linn, poplar, hemlock, ash, and locust. On some of the higher 

 peaks and coldest exposures spruce occurs, and there is a small amount of white 

 pine in the lower part of the basins of both streams. There has been some 

 cutting, but a considerable part of the forest is yet unculled. 



Yield. T\\Q forest will cut from 2,000 to 3,000 feet B. M. per acre. 



Demand. There is active demand for first-class timber of nearl}^ all kinds, 

 especial 1}' for hard woods and white pine. The best stumpage brings $2 to $4 

 per thousand feet near the railroad. Inferior stumpage and that less conven- 

 iently situated commands less. 



Accessibility. A branch railroad from Johnson, Tenn., to Marion, N. C, 

 crosses the mouth of both creeks, and there are fair wagon roads up both 

 streams, which could easily be much improved to facilitate logging. Tramroads 

 could be easily and cheaply constructed up both streams. 



Second (jrowth. In the woodland adjoining the farms there is a large pro- 

 portion of second growth. The greater portion of this consists of oak and 

 chestnut sprouts, scantily intermixed with seedlings. There is some young white 

 pine on the lower part of the streams. 



Reproduction. Reproduction is generally good. Pasturage has not been 

 excessive. In some places, especially on the dry southern slopes of quartzite 



