136 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Occupancy. About 70 families are living in this basin. 



Prices of land. Mountain lands are valued at $1 to $2 per acre; farm lands, 

 at $5 to $20 per acre. 



SPILLCORN CREEK DISTRICT (mADISON COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. On the north and west, Shelton Laurel divide; on the east, the 

 State line and Foster Creek divide; on the south, Foster Creek divide and Big 

 Laurel Creek. 



Area. Total, 14 square miles; cleared, 5.25 square miles; wooded, 8.75 square 

 miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. Yellow to brown loam; very fertile when first cleared. 



Agricultural value. About 1,200 acres of this land are well adapted to agri- 

 culture, but the remainder is too steep and liable to wash, though much of it 

 produces good crops of grass several years after clearing. 



Timher trees. White pine, 8 per cent; hemlock, 5 per cent; white oak, 10 

 per cent; chestnut oak, 5 per cent; red oak, 3 per cent; black oak, 1 per cent; 

 chestnut, 12 per cent; gum, 4 per cent; maple, 6 per cent; ash, 2 per cent; cherry, 

 2 per cent; cucumber, 7 per cent; buckeye, 8 per cent; poplar, 2 per cent; 

 hickory, 5 per cent; other species, 17 per cent. 



Yield. Ijog timber, 20,705 M feet, B. M.; small wood, 67,220 cords. 



Demand. The best of the log timber brings from $1 to $2 per thousand feet 

 on the stump. 



Acce.ssihility. The center of this tract is about 14 miles, h\ a rough wagon 

 road, from the railroad. The wagon road now leading through this basin is ver}^ 

 rough and becomes impassable with ever}' rise of the stream. The slopes are 

 steep and somewhat brushy, but not especially difficult to log. 



Fire. Fires are frequent along the ridges, where saplings and brush are 

 frequentl}' killed and the forest is kept in inferior condition. The lower slopes, 

 however, have not been severely damaged by tire. 



Second <7/'<9y/7^A. Abundant on all cuttings on north slopes where protected 

 from lire. 



ZTndergi'OUJth. Usually light. 



Ri'production. Free, except for fire. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 

 Water power. Limited; the stream is not large and is very inconstant. 



Occupancy. About 40 families are living on this tract. 



Prices of land. From $2 to $15 per acre. 



