NOETHWESTERN SLOPE OF SMOKY MOUNTAINS. 179 



Undergrowth. Very light, owing to fires and grazing. 



Rate of growth. Not rapid, except in the few areas along watercourses. 



Water power. None. 

 Prices of land. One dollar per acre is probably a good price. 



TENNESSEE GAP (bLOUNT AND MONROE COUKTIES, TENN.). 



Boundaries. This tract covers all the remaining portion of the land draining 

 into Little Tennessee River, north and east of that stream, between Abram Creek 

 and the North Carolina State line. 



Area. Total, 19.08 square miles; cleared, 0.24 square mile; wooded, 18.84 

 square miles. 



Surface. Mountainous; about 800 acres along river and creek bottoms and 

 in coves on the mountain side are arable. 



/lSo^7. Light on ridges; medium in hollows. 



Humus and Utter. Variable. Abundant- in a few coves that have escaped 

 fire, but scant elsewhere. 



Agrieidtural value. There are some good farms along the river bottom and 

 some of the creek bottoms, and a few of the coves are worth cultivating. 



Timber trees. Hemlock, 15 per cent; chestnut oak, 15 per cent; black oak, 

 20 per cent; white pine, 20 per cent; black pine, 10 per cent; red oak, 3 per 

 cent; white oak, 3 per cent; birch, maple, cherry, hickory, black gum, and sweet 

 gum together, 14 per cent. 



Demand. The best floatable timber reasonabh^ accessible is worth $2 per 

 thousand feet on the stump. White pine is not worth over %\ per thousand feet. 



Accessibility. This is the most accessible portion of the Smoky Mountains. 

 Tennessee River affords good transportation and passes within 5 miles of the 

 remotest part of the tract. 



Cutting. Very little log timber has been removed. Floatable timber is now 

 being cut on Silver Creek, where 200,000 feet and 250 cords of bark are ready 

 to be sent down river. 



Fire. Surface fires are very frequent. But little humus or litter is left. 



Reproduction. Where protected by moisture seedlings come in rapidly; but 

 on the ridges reproduction is very scant, owing to fire and grazing. 



Second grovjth. Saplings are abundant only in damp places. The forest on 

 the ridges will soon deteriorate for lack of young stock. 



Undergrowth. Greatly reduced by fire and grazing. 



Rate of growth. Less than eastward along the range. 



Water power. Streams are too small for much power. 



Prices of land. This tract is as.sessed at about |1 per acre. 



