TALLITLAH-CHATTOOGA RIVER BASIN. 253 



Pro I tortious of thnbcr species in Talhdah-Cliattooga Hirer basin Continued. 



Per cent. 



Chestnut 10 



Black pine H 



Black gum 3 



Locust 1 



Other species 11 



White pine 2 



Birch . : 1 



In condition also the forest is inferior to that of the plateau. The injuries 

 by tire are greater. The rate of growth is further retarded by drought and 

 probably by occasional spring frosts, which kill the buds and 3'oung leaves. The 

 greater portion is in the condition of a natural forest, with many old, crooked, 

 fire scarred and otherwise defective trees and inferior species, and with subordinate 

 saplings, crooked and retarded. Because of prevalent fires the stand is imperfect, 

 many spaces being covered with mere brush where a stand of good timber is 

 possible. Along the line of the old railroad grade from Walhalla to Rabun Gap, 

 much burning was done at the time of grading; this area is now covered with a 

 dense stand of saplings, principall}^ oak and hickory. 



The absence of protection from fire on its dr}' slopes would be the main 

 difficulty in bringing this forest into good condition. Sprouts and seedlings 

 spring up quickl}- where fire can be prevented. 



The effect of the no-fence law is plainly noticeable south of Chattooga River, 

 where the forest is more severely injured by fires, which are there fiercer 

 because of more combustible material. 



DICKS CREEK BASIN (rABUN COUNTY, GA.). 



Area. Total, 10.4 square miles; cleared, 1.9 square miles; wooded, 8.5 

 square miles. 



Surface. A narrow strip of bottom land (about 2 square miles), smooth 

 enough to be aral)le, lies along the stream, while the slopes are steep and often 

 rocky. 



Soil. The alluvial bottoms are fertile; the ridge land is poor. Much of the 

 soil is red, clayey loam. 



Thimtis and litter\ Scant, except along the lower slopes having eastward 

 exposure. 



Agricultural value. The best land yields about 50 bushels of corn per acre, 

 and in the upper portion of the valle}^ hay and fruits do very well. 



Timber trees. Black oak, Texas oak, red oak, white oak, Spanish oak, hickory, 

 chestnut, linn, cucumber, poplar, ash, cherry, walnut, and a few hemlock and pine. 



Yield. luo^ timber, 11,000 M feet B. M.; small wood, 66,000 cords. 



