248 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



The soil' of the ridj^es is light and poor; that on the mountain slopes usually 

 varies, according to its exposure to fire and erosion. 



Ilwnm arid litte)\ Light. 



Agricultural value. Corn crops are very light, and grass is difficult to 

 grow. Fruits do well on the mountain slopes, but the general appearance of 

 the valley is not attractive to farmers. 



Timber treet^. Oaks, 70 per cent; chestnut, 8 per cent; hickory, 8 per cent; 

 linn, 1 per cent; cucumber, 2 per cent; gum, 5 per cent; poplar, ash, and 

 cherry together, 5 per cent; buckeye, 3 per cent; the maples, 3 per cent. 



Yield. Log timber, 40,000 M feet B. M.; small wood, 448,000 cords. 



Demand. This land is so far from the market that the prices are nominal. 

 The best trees bring onl}^ $1 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. There is no special difficulty in logging, but the road to 

 market is so long and rough that there is no profit in taking out the timber. 



Cutting. About 200,000 feet have been taken out, and there has been other 

 cutting for local use. 



Fire. Fires are frequent, and show their effect in the depletion of the 

 forest. 



Reproduction. Free where fires and grazing are prevented. Even on old 

 pastures persimmon and pine are coming in freely. 



Second growth. Deficient, because there has been much fire. 



Undergrowth. Much reduced hy fire and grazing, though some laurel 

 patches remain along streams on north slopes. 



Rate of growth. Slow; the oaks commonly make 2 inches in diameter in ten 

 years. 



Water povner The creek near Elf is about 50 feet wide and \\ feet deep, 

 with a fair current. Several very favorable sites for power occur along the 

 lower portion of Shooting Creek. 



Prices of land. The highest price for farm land is $15 per acre. The 

 mountain lands can be bought for $1 per acre, or less. 



BELL CREEK DISTRICT (UNION COUNTY, GA.). 



Boundaries. The divides, including all of the area between the ridge from 

 Hiwassee to Eagle Mountain and the southern divide of the Shooting Creek basin. 



Area. Total, 15 square miles; cleared, 5.50 square miles; wooded, 9.50 square 

 miles. 



Surface. The lowlands, comprising about 5 square miles, are rolling to 

 hilly. The mountain slopes are usually moderate, })ut in some places are 

 precipitous. 



