142 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Humus and Utter. In the deep hollows at the head of the stream there is 



a considerable accumulation of leaf mold in the forest. On the lower hills and 



dry south slopes this is often altogether absent, on account of the brush tires 



and pasturage. 



Agricultural value. The land produces fairl}- well where it has not been 



cleared too long and is not steep enough to have washed badlj. Small grain, 



corn, and dark tobaccos, with apples, are the chief crops. Apples, especially, do 



ver}^ well. Some grass is grown, but the southerly aspect and the poor, sand}" 



soil are not well adapted to grass. 



TimhefT trees. Oaks and hickories, associated with the shortleaf and black 

 pines, form the forest on the lower hills and dr}^ southern slopes. Maples, birches, 

 linn, and hemlock are associated with the oaks on the moister land, especiall}' 

 at higher elevations. The best of the lighter woods has been cut. 



Yield. The lower part of the valley will cut less than 2,000 feet B. M. 

 per acre; the upper part will cut more. 



Demand. Several mills have at different times sawed lumber on this creek, 

 so that the most accessible timber has been cut. Good timber is scarce and 

 brings from %\ to $4 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. The mouth of the creek is 12 miles, by a good wagon road, 

 from Marshall, on the Southern Railway. There is a fair road up the creek to 

 its head. 



Second growth. Around the older farms there is a considerable amount of 

 second-growth woodland, both of sprouts and seedlings. The sprouts consist 

 largely of scarlet and white oak, sourwood, and chestnut; the seedlings of small 

 groves of shortleaf and ])lack pines. 



Undergrowth. The woods are generally open, though in some places there 

 are rhododendron thickets and underbrush sprouts, which have followed fires. 



Reproduction. Reproduction is generall}- good where there are no fi)*es nor 

 pasturage. Cattle are grazed in much of the woodland, which tends to check 

 the regeneration of broadleaf species, and fires are frequent and severe. 



Rate of growth. Accretion is normal for the elevation and aspect. 



Water 2)^>wer. This stream is too small to afford more than a very small 

 power. 



Ovniership. The timber land is largeh^ owned b}"^ residents. There are no 

 very large tracts. 



Occupancy. There are about 37 families living in this basin. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $6 to $25 per acre; woodland, at $3 

 to $10. 



