242 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Condition. In condition, too, there is a noticeable contrast. Fires have been 

 more prevalent and have kept decaying vegetation thoroughly consumed. They 

 have killed less timber, but have done no less damage by pireventing new growth. 



On isolated wood lots and near clearings are many tracts of thrifty saplings, 

 but the general forest condition, owing to tire and grazing, is inferior to that 

 of the mountains northward. 



The first and essential step toward the improvement of this forest woukl be 

 the prevention of fire. Much of the stand is now so thin that thinnings need 

 not be made at once. 



Sprouts and seedlings will start freely, and the forest will grow well as soon 

 as the forest soil has reached natural condition again. 



But few cattle are ranged in the mountains now, as the grazing has been so 

 reduced by repeated fires. 



VALLEY RIVER BASIN ABOVE ANDREWS (CHEROKEE COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. The divides, including the entire drainage basin east of the 

 basin of Junalaska Creek and the ridge leading north from the mouth of that 

 stream. 



Area. Total, 40 square miles, cleared, 4 square miles; wooded, 36 squai'e 

 miles. 



Surface. About 5 square miles in the bottom and on the lower slopes of 

 the valleys are smooth enough to be arable. The mountain slopes, especially 

 those to the southward, are steep and rocky. 



Soil. In the bottoms loam; on the lower slopes red-clay loam, and in the 

 coves deep, dark mold. 



Humus and litter. Not abundant, except in a few north coves. 



Agricultural vahie. Corn yields 40 bushels per acre on the best of the 

 bottoms, while in the coves grass, vegetables, and fruit 3^ield well. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 75 per cent; chestnut, 10 per cent; hickory, 2 per cent; 

 gum, 2 per cent; maple, 2 per cent; cucumber, ash, cherry, and poplar together, 

 5 per cent; others, 4 per cent. 



Yield. IjO^ timber, 32,259 M feet B. M.; small wood, 188,973 cords. 



Demand. Log timber brings from $1 to $2 per thousand feet on the stump, 

 and bark has a stumpage value of |1 per cord. 



Accessibility. A wagon road leads through the valle}^ from Marble Gap to 

 Andrews along the mountain slope south of the railway. The portion north of 

 the railway is more diflScult of access. There are very few roads of any sort, 

 and the mountain side is steep and rocky. 



Cutting. Large amounts of log timber have been taken out for local use. 



