LITTLE TENNESSEE EIVER BASIN. 221 



HAZEL CREEK BASIN (sWAIN COUKTY, N. C). 



Area. Total, 52 square miles; cleared, 3 square miles; wooded 49 square 

 miles; severely burned, 3 square miles. 



Surface. The basin lies between two of the southern spurs of the Smoky 

 Mountains. For several miles above its mouth the stream flows through a gorge. 

 Nearer its head it forks several times and the basin broadens, but the mountain 

 slopes, which rise from the brink of the stream, are with few exceptions steep 

 and rough. 



Soils. Slates, sandstone, and quartzite form the country rock and yield 

 loose or sandy-loam soils, often coarse grained and rocky, shallow, except at the 

 heads of the hollows, and onl}^ moderately fertile. There are no alluvial lands. 



Humus and litter. In the lower part of the basin, and where the woodland 

 is closely pastured and frequently burned, and on many south slopes above, 

 leaf mold is scant. In the deep hollows and on north slopes in the upper 

 part of the valley the soil is protected by a deep accumulation of humus. 



Agricultural value. The soils are too sandy and the slopes are generally too 

 steep and rockj^ to be extensively used agriculturally, though there are a few 

 areas which are suitable for permanent farms. The common crops of the region 

 do well where the soil is fertile. 



Thnher trees. Below the forks of the creek oaks, chestnut, and hickory, in 

 relative abundance in the order named, compose the forest. Above the forks 

 chestnut and oaks are associated with birch, maple, hemlock, and linn. There 

 is some spruce at high elevations. 



Yield. The yield is more than 3,000 feet B. M. per acre, except on the 

 lower part of the stream. 



Demand. On account of the distance to the nearest railroad point onl}'^ the 

 choicest trees are cut, and sell at 50 cents to $2 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. There is no good road down the lower part of the valley. 

 The main road turns across the southern end of Forneys Ridge to Bushnell, 

 on Little Teimessee River, 8 miles above the mouth of the creek; this is the 

 nearest station on the Asheville and Murph}^ Branch of the Southern Railway. 

 Rough roads extend up both branches of the stream nearly to its head. 



Cutting. One small mill is in operation, cutting oak, 3ellow poplar, and ash. 

 Some cutting has been done to within 5 miles of the head of the stream. 



Second growth. Oak, hickory, maple, and chestnut form the second growth, 

 which is scant. 



Undergrowth. Thickets of laurel, rhododendron, and other shrubs often 

 occur at high elevations. 



