238 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



on the mountains, especially on the ridges where fires have been prevalent for 

 man}^ years, there are but few. 



Undergrowth. Ver}'^ little. It has been reduced by fire and grazing. 



Rate of grmoth. Medium. Most of the oaks add about 1 inch to their 

 diameters in eight years. 



Water power. There are several locations where limited power could be 

 secured. Buffalo Creek, near its mouth, about October 1, 1900, was 25 feet wide 

 and 1 foot deep and moderately rapid. 



Ownership. Nearly all of the tract is held by residents. Other holdings 

 are not large. 



Prices of land. The best farm lands could be bought for $5 per acre. 



MOUNTAIN CREEK BASIN (gRAHAM COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 8 square miles; cleared, 0.66 square miles; wooded, 7.34 square 

 miles. 



Surface. Rolling to mountainous. 



Soil. Fertile red loam in the lowlands, but light and poor on the ridges. 



Humus and litter. Verj^ scant. 



Agricultural value. Corn, grass, grain, and fruits yield fair crops. 



Timber, trees. The oaks, chestnut, hickory, cucumber, linn, poplar, etc., are 

 in very nearly the same proportion as in Buffalo and Cochran Creek basins. 



Yield. hog timber, 12,210 M feet B. M.; small wood, 44,800 cords. 



Demand. On account of remoteness from railroad, %1 per thousand feet on 

 the stump is considered a good price. 



Accessibility. The central point of this tract is about 16 miles from the rail- 

 road at Nantahala, to which point lumber is hauled by wagon. The mountain 

 sides are not especially difficult of access. 



Cutting. Much culling has been done, principally for local use. 



Fires. Annual fires are the rule, and the forest shows the effect in injured 

 trees and scant underbrush. 



Reproductio7i. Free on the few tracts where fire has not prevented. 



Second growth. Dense stands of saplings are found on wood lots where 

 protected from fire by clearings. On the mountains saplings are not abundant. 



TJndergrou^th. Very little, owing to fire and grazing. 



Rate of growth. Medium. 



Water 'power. Limited; streams are small. 



Ownership. The tract is divided into small holdings. Most of these are 

 held by residents. 



Prices of land. From %\ to $10 per acre. 



