146 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Reproduction. All the species seem to seed regular}}' and reproduce freely 

 under suitable conditions. This is especially true of the pines, the seedlings of 

 which are abundant wherever the}^ are protected from iire and suitable light 

 conditions prevail. Chestnut and the oaks sprout freely from the stump, except 

 in larger trees. 



Second growth. Where not suppressed by fire or cattle, there is an abundant 

 undergrowth of young trees of the same species as those which form, the dominant 

 growth^ pines and scarlet oak on south slopes, and birch, oaks, and maple on 

 more shaded exposures. 



Undergrowth. In many places the undergrowth is dense, especially in hollows 

 and on north slopes. It is iteually composed of rhododendron, Kalmia, buckeye, 

 and leucothop. 



Rate of growth. Good growth is made where the soil is moist and deep. 

 The growth of the oak in the lower part of the valley is fair on the uplands, 

 and the trees do not attain a large size. Much better growth is made on the 

 upper part of the stream. The growth of the pine is only fair. 



Water power. ThevQ is one gristmill in operation at present, about 3 miles 

 above the mouth of the stream. Although there is ample fall, the power 

 secured is slight. 



Ownership. The forest lands are largely owned by resident citizens. There 

 are 18 families on the right fork, 2 on the left fork, and 13 below the forks. 



Prices of land. Cleared land in condition for farming is worth from $6 to 

 $20 per acre; forest land, from %\ to $4 per acre. 



me:adow and roaring fork basins (madison county, n. c). 



^rea. Total, 24 square miles; cleared, 5 square miles; wooded, 19 square 

 miles; severely burned, 3 square miles. 



Surface. The surface of these basins is extremely rough and the slopes 

 steep. There is very little bottom land along the streams and no level uplands. 

 The north slopes, especially those of Hogback Mountain and Spring Creek 

 Mountain, are so steep and rocky that they are not generally cultivated, but the 

 south slopes are usually more gentle and are cleared to the headwaters of the 

 streams. The soil is a gray loam, exceptionally red, and generally gravelly, 

 largely derived from an altered conglomerate. On nearly all of the southern 

 slopes where the inclination is not too steep, it is deep and fairly productive. 

 It is occasional!}^ rocky, especially on the north slopes, where the rock is often 

 exposed. This condition is largely due to the dip of the rock. 



Humus and litter. Mold is generally abundant, especially in the denser 

 woods on north and northeast slopes. The soil is often bare where pines are 



