246 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



Accessibility. The center of the valle}' is about 16 miles b}- rough wagon 

 road from the railroad. The slopes of the valley are steep and frequently rocky. 

 Logging in the usual way would be difficult, but there are no serious obstacles 

 to logging by rail. 



Cutting. Poplar, ash, cherry, and cucumber have been cut near the main 

 stream and well toward the head of the main valley. The logs have V)een floated 

 in the creek with some difficulty. 



Fire. Fires have been so frequent that the undergrowth and the pasture 

 are greatly reduced. Some large areas were seen where there was absolutelv no 

 vegetation under the trees. 



Reproduction. The cuttings are readily restocked. On old clearings persim- 

 mon, oak, and pine appear slowly. 



Second gnnuth. Saplings are in moderate abundance, but there are xevy few 

 small ones, owing to the increase of tires in recent years. 



Unde^'growth. Very light; it is prevented ])y tires and grazing. 



Rate of grmoth. Moderate. The oaks make about 2 inches in diameter in 

 ten years. 



Water j>ovier. Abundant. The creek was found 50 feet wide and 6 inches 

 deep with a rapid fall, during the dry time in October, 1900. 



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

 price for mountain lands is nominal. 



TUSQUITEE CREEK BASIN (CLAY COUNTY, N. C). 



Ar^a. Total, 45 square miles; cleared, 4.50 square miles; wooded, 40.50 square 

 miles. 



Surface. The bottom of the valle}^ is about 1 mile wide up to a point about 

 5 miles from Hiwassee River. Above this point are interrupted areas of undulating 

 to rolling bottom lands. The mountain slopes are not especially steep, though 

 occasional cliffs may be seen from the- valle3\ 



Soil. The soil of the bottom is loam, much of which has been very fertile, 

 and some of which is now very productive. The slopes and ridges have a light 

 soil, and are subject to drought and erosion. 



Agricultural value. Thirty bushels of corn per acre is a common yield, but 

 hay requires much care, and fruits are liable to rot. In marked contrast with 

 some of the region northward, the slopes and coves are not cultivated in this 

 valley, the alluvial lands being preferred. 



Timber ^/"e^. Oaks, 70 per cent; chestnut, 10 per cent; cucumber, T per 

 cent; linn, 1 per cent; buckeye, 2 per cent; poplar, ash, and cherry, 2 per cent; 

 hickory, 3 per cent; and others, 5 per cent. 



