148 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAiST FORESTS. 



Spring Creek mountains. In the pine woods they are of nearly annual 

 occurrence, damage much standing timber, and destroy or kill back to stool 

 shoots much young growth of fire-tender species. 



Reproduction . All the trees seed frequently and regularly, and under suitable 

 conditions the seed germinate freely. Chestnut, linn, and the oaks sprout from 

 the stump after cutting, unless the trees are of large size. 



Second groioth. Above Kline there is excellent reproduction of l)irch, maple, 

 hemlock, and chestnut in deep hollows and on north slopes; fair reproduction of 

 chesnut, scarlet oak, white oak, and chestnut oak on drier and thinl\- soiled 

 ridges. Below Kline, where the white pine is the dominant tree, the 3'oung 

 growth is largeh' composed of white pine, scarlet oak, and white oak. 



Undergrmrth . The woods are generallj' open, except for young trees. In 

 places, however, there are dense thickets of rhododendron and Judritia. 



Bate of growth. Good growth is made, especially on warm, southern slopes 

 with a deep moist soil. The growth is slower toward the heads of streams; that 

 of the white pine is above the average rate of accretion. 



Water power. There are several good sites for small mills, and there is 

 rapid fall in the streams, but on account of their small size only limited power 

 is available. 



Ownership. The timber lands of Meadow Fork are largely embraced in the 

 Updegrove holdings, especialh^ those at the head of the creek. The upper 

 forests of Koaring Fork, on the slopes of Max Patch Mountain, are also 

 embraced in these holdings. The rest of the timber is largely distributed among 

 small landowjiers. These valleys are thickly settled up, and as soon as the 

 timber is cut from the Updegrove lands they will at once be converted into 

 farms to relieve the crowded condition which at present prevails. 



Prices of land. Farming lands under cultivation sell at $6 to $20 per 

 acre; woodland, at $2 to $6 per acre, dependent on the situation, amount and 

 kind of timber, and accessibility. 



PAINT CREEK BASIN (cOCKE COUNTY, TENN.). 



Area. Total, 18 square miles; cleared, 3 square mile; wooded. 15 square 

 miles; 8everelv burned, 3 square miles. 



Surface. The topography is verj^ rough. The basin is a narrow, gorge-like 

 valley walled on each side by steep and rugged mountains. There is no bottom 

 land. Along 3 miles of the creek, in the middle of the valley, the land is entirely 

 unsettled. 



