NORTHWESTEBN SLOPE OF SMOKY MOUNTAINS. 177 



of this practice. The brush is subdued; the timber is frequently scorched at the 

 butt, often killed. 



Reproduction. Seedlings are kept down by cattle and fires, except on a few 

 old fields, where thrift}^ pines and oaks are abundant. 



Second gro^vth. Abundant saplings promise better timber than the original 

 forest. These must have started at a time when fires were less prevalent than 

 now. 



Undergrowth. Reduced b}^ burning and grazing. 



Rate of groivth. Rapid, except on ridges. 



Watei' jpo^oer. The streams are small. The largest, where leaving the tract, 

 was about 25 feet wide and 1 foot deep September 1, 1900. 



Ownership. The resident population hold the cleared land and perhaps as 

 much woodland adjoining. There are perhaps 140 families resident on this tract. 



Prices of land. The best farm in the valley can be bought for $5 per acre. 

 Fifty cents an acre is considered a good price for mountain land. 



ABRAM CREEK DISTRICT (bLOUNT COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. ^The diyides comprising all the land drained by the stream, except 

 Cades Cove, above the forks of Cove and Forge creeks and the south slope of 

 Chilhowee Mountain. 



Area. Total, 49.11 square miles; cleared, 1.92 square miles; woodland, 47.22 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous, with very small arable areas in valleys 

 (about 2 square miles). 



Soil. Very light on ridges. Moderately fertile in valleys and coves. 



Humus and litter. Light. Nearl}^ all consumed bj^ the numerous fires. 



Agricultural 'value. Very slight, except in the few narrow bottoms and small 

 coves. Not over 1,300 acres adapted to agriculture. 



Timber trees. White pine, 20 per cent; hemlock, 10 per cent; black pine, 10 

 per cent; scarlet oak, 10 per cent; black oak, 2 per cent; white oak, 5 per cent; 

 red oak, 5 per cent; chestnut, 12 per cent; chestnut oak, 10 per cent; poplar, 

 cherry, and ash together, 2 per cent; maple, 2 per cent; birch, 2 per cent; 

 cucumber, peawood, hickory, and others, 10 per cent. 



Yield. Log timber, 90,662 M feet B. M. ; small wood, 302,000 cords. 



Demand. The best price has been $1 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. Most of this land is difficult of access. There are no special 

 obstructions to railroad building, however. 



Cutting. Very little cutting has been done, except along the lower portion 

 of the stream. 



10336 No. 3705 12 



