174 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



white pine, 0.5 per cent; cherry, walnut, butternut, and yellow wood constitute 

 the remainder. 



Yield.hog timber, 29,747 M feet B. M.; small wood, 178,000 cords. 



Demand. Stumpage prices for the best timber runs from %\ to $2 per 

 thousand feet, where it is fairly accessible. 



Accessibility. Difficult. The slopes are steep and rocky, especially near the 

 river. A wagon road has been made, at great expense, from Wear Cove to 

 Greenbrier Cove, then, crossing the river, passes through the coves near the 

 sources of the western tributaries. 



Cutting. Portable mills have operated here and there along this road. 

 Perhaps 10 per cent of the most valuable timber has been taken out. 



Fire. At least half of this tract is burned over annually. Most of the 

 underbrush has been killed, except laurel, which is abundant along the streams. 



Reproduction. Free, except where repeatedly burned. 



Second growth. Deficient. Fires have been too frequent, and very little 

 young stock is coming up, especially on the ridges. 



Undergrowth. Southern slopes are fairly free; northern slopes have some 

 brush, but it is much reduced by fires. 



Rate of growth. Slow on ridges; fairly rapid in coves and along streams. 



Water power. Abundant along the river. 



Prices of land. From $2 to $5 per acre. 



MIDDLE AND WEST PRONGS OF LITTLE RIVER BASINS (SEVIER AND BLOUNT COUNTIES, 



TENN.). 



Bo^mda/ries. The divides comprising the whole drainage basin above 

 Tuckaleechee Cove, except that of Laurel Creek. 



Area. Total, 38.16 square miles; cleared, 0.23 square mile; burned, 2 

 square miles; wooded, 35.93 square miles. 



Surface. Mountainous; much of it very steep. The stream bottoms are 

 narrow. 



Soil. Light. 



Humus and litter. Scant; mostly consumed by fire. 



Agricultural value. Slight. Even the clearings, supposed to be the best 

 land, are not very productive. 



Timber trees. Hemlock, 12 per cent; white pine, 2 per cent; black pine, 1 

 per cent; chestnut oak, 10 per cent; chestnut, 10 per cent; white oak, 10 per 

 cent; red oak, 4 per cent; scarlet oak, 10 per cent; black oak, 2 per cent; 

 cherry, ash, and poplar together, 2 per cent; peawood, 2 per cent; black gum. 



