200 THE SOUTHEEN APPALACHIAN FOEESTS. 



Second growth. The second growth is largely of scarlet and white oaks, and 

 consists chiefly of stool shoots. There are often several sprouts from the same 

 stump. Fires and cattle suppress much of the second growth on south slopes. 

 On north slopes there are occasional thickets of saplings of red oak, chestnut, 

 and ash which have sprung up where poplar and chestnut have been culled. 



Undergrowth. Huckleberry and bush honeysuckle form most of the under- 

 growth on south slopes, and laurel and Kalmia on north slopes and in the hollows. 

 North slopes, however, are generally free from undergrowth. 



Rate of growth. Trees grow rapidly, especiall}^ young trees which are not 

 too crowded, as those on cut-over lands and in culled woods. The growth on 

 the dry southern slopes is slower and the trees smaller. 



Water power. There are two small mills on the creek operated by water 

 power and there are sites for other mills, but the power is not great. 



Ownership. The lower part is owned by residents. 



Prices of land. Agricultural land in cultivation sells at $5 to $7 per acre; 

 timbered lands, at $2 to %Z per acre. 



WINE SPRING CREEK BASIN (mACON COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 7 square miles; cleared, 1 square mile; wooded, 6 square miles; 

 severely burned, none. 



Surface. One-half mile above its mouth the valley narrows abruptly into a 

 gorge, which extends to the head of the creek. The slopes are very steep and 

 rock}^, and there is no level bottom land. The descent of the stream is very 

 rapid, being a series of falls and rapids nearly to its mouth. It drops more than 

 1,000 feet in less than 3 miles. 



Soil. The soils are gray loams, derived from the decay of metamorphosed 

 sandstones. They are fairly deep in spite of the steepness of the slopes, and are 

 well adapted to forest growth. They are too sandy for most agricultural crops, 

 and, on account of their steepness, wash rapidly. At the mouth of the stream 

 is a small alluvial bottom. It has been cleared, but its cultivation has been 

 abandoned on account of the lightness of the soil and the numerous stones with 

 which it is encumbered. 



Huraus and litter. There is excellent leaf mold in the entire forest, except 

 on some of the steepest southern slopes and driest crests. 



Agricultural value. Corn, small grain, apples, and potatoes, as well as grass, 

 do well in spite of the steepness of the land. 



Demand. Poplar, ash, and oak are sought for and sell at $2 to $3 per 

 thousand feet on the stump. 



