222 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Reproduction. Under existing conditions oak and chestnut reproduce freely 

 from seed, other species less. Most of the hard woods, if small, regenerate by 

 stool shoots when killed by fire. 



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



Water power. This stream is too small to afford more than a limited power 

 at any one place. 



Occupancy. There are 17 families living on the stream. 



Prices of land. Forest land sells at $2 to $6 per acre; farming land, for 

 more. 



FORNEY CREEK BASIN (sWAIN COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 35 square miles; cleared, 2 square miles; wooded, 33 square 

 miles; severely burned, 3 square miles. 



Surface. The lower part of the basin is very rough, and the slopes are 

 steep and often precipitous. In the upper part it broadens out and divides into 

 several small tributary valleys, which have gentle slopes. 



Soils. The soils are generally loose and thin, derived from sandstone, 

 quartzite, and conglomerate, and are often extremely rocky. 



Humus and litter. Leaf mold is generally deep, except on dry southern 

 slopes, or where it has been destroyed by fires. 



Agricultural value. On account of the steepness of the slopes the greater 

 portion of the valley is not suited for agriculture. Nearly all of the level land 

 or that with gentle slope is under cultivation. All of the common crops of 

 the region thrive. 



Timber trees. Oaks and chestnut are the characteristic trees on the warmer 

 soils, and with these, on colder and damper soils, are associated birch, maple, 

 linn, buckeye, and hemlock, while at high elevations on the crest of the Smoky 

 Mountains there is a small amount of spruce. 



Yield. The forest will cut more than -1,000 feet B. M. per acre. 



Demand. Good hard- wood timber, suitable for the manufacture of export 

 lumber, is being bought. There is no local demand. 



Accessibility. There is a road several miles up the creek which could easily 

 be extended to the foot of the Smoky Mountains, and the portion already 

 built is capable of easy improvement. The Asheville and Murphy Branch of 

 the Southern Railway crosses the mouth of the stream. 



Cutting. A great part of the best timber has been cut from the lower end 

 of the valley, but the upper end is largely unculled. 



Second growth. There is no second-growth woods, except small areas con- 

 nected with the farms. 



