186 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Soils. The soils are deep but generally coarse grained and are derived from 

 gneiss and mica-schists. In spite of their steepness they do not wash very badly. 

 They are not very productive and have not been carefully tended. 



Humus and litter. There is a deep accumulation of leaf mold on the north 

 slopes and in the hollows, but much less on the south slopes, which have been 

 badl3'^ burned. 



Agricultural- value. Corn is the staple crop; small grain and apples are 

 cultivated to some extent. The yields are not heavy and farming is not profitable. 

 Manj^ of the farms are too small to adequately support their owners. 



Timber trees. Oaks form about 50 per cent and chestnut about 25 per cent 

 of the entire forest; sourwood and hickory are freely associated with these on 

 southern slopes. In a few dry places there is some 3'ellow pine, and in the 

 hollows hemlock, birch, and maple are also found, with a small quantity of poplar 

 and ash. 



Yield. The yield is about 2,000 feet B. M. per acre, except on the poorest 

 "ridge land, where it is much less. 



Demand. The local demand is limited to a small amount of low-grade wood 

 for domestic use and chestnut and locust for fencing and posts. Some lumber 

 has been sawed and hauled to Bryson City, but the distance is too far to make 

 this profitable. 



Cutting. The best poplar and oak has been cut for shipment, and much of 

 the low-grade timber for domestic use. 



Second growth. Oak and chestnut sprouts form the second growth. This is 

 by no means abundant, as the area of heavily culled woodland is not large. 



Undei'grmjoth. There are some laurel thickets on north slopes, but they are 

 not large enough nor dense enough to interfere seriously with lumbering. There is 

 very little ivy. In a few places there are thickets of shrubs and brush, which have 

 followed fires. 



Reproduction. Most of the species reproduce well, both by seed and sprouts. 

 The forest in many places is devoid of j^oung growth because of frequent fires. 



Rate of growth. Accretion is normal for the aspect and elevation. 



Water power. The stream is too small to afi'ord any but a limited power, 

 although the fall is ample. 



Ownership. The forest land is held in small areas by residents. 



Occupancy. The- upper part of the basin is thickly settled, but there are 

 only a few farms in the lower part. There are about 25 families living on the 

 creek. 



Price of land. Farming land sells at $5 to $20 per acre; woodland, at $2 to $3 

 per acre. 



