218 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Timber trees. The oaks, j^ellow and black pines, chestnut and hickor}", in 

 relative abundance about in the order named, form the greater portion of the 

 forests, except in the hollows, where tj'^pical Appalachian hard woods prevail. 



Yield. Average, 1,700 feet B. M. per acre. 



Demand. While there is no local demand, the nearness to the railroad renders 

 most of the best timber merchantable. 



Accessibility. The center of the valley is about 7 miles from the Southern 

 Railway, by means of a fair wagon road, which could easily be improved. 



Cutting. No mills are in operation at present, but much of the best timber 

 has been cut and shipped. 



Second growth. Scarlet, white, and black oaks, shortleaf and black pines, 

 and hickory form most of the second growth, which is abundant onl}" in the 

 vicinity of the larger and older settlements. 



Undergrowth. With the exception of groups of young trees and occasional 

 clumps of Kahnia or other shrubs, undergrowth is scant. 



Rejproduction. Groves of young trees are frequent in culled woods, showing 

 that the forests will readilj' regenerate. 



Rate of growth. On account of the prevailing thin, dry soil, accretion is 

 rather slow. 



Water j>ower. ^There are numerous sites for small dams. The run-off is 

 rapid, and short periods of very high water are frequent, following heavy rainfall 

 in the mountains. 



Ownership. The Eastern band of the Cherokee Indians owns a large portion 

 of the mountain land. The rest of the land is divided into numerous small 

 holdings. 



Occupancy. There are about 80 families living on this part of the river. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $6 to $30 per acre; woodland, at $1 

 to %b per acre. 



TWENTYMILE CREEK BASIN (SWAIN COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 24 square miles; cleared, 0.5 square mile; wooded, 22.5 

 square miles; severely burned, 1 square mile. 



Surface. The entire basin is broken into steep hills or rugged mountains, 

 with some very small bottoms about the middle of the basin 



Soils. The soils are generally sandy and rather coarse grained, but they 

 seem to be well suited to forest growth. 



Humus and litter. In the deep hollows and on north slopes there is an 

 accumulation of leaf mold. In some places it is very deep. On the lower hills 

 near the mouth of the stream and on many of the dry southern slopes, especially 

 such as have been burned, it is often very scant. 



