CATAWBA RIVER BASIN. 267 



at Grandfather Mountain and Pinnacle to an elevation of more than 5,000 feet, 

 forms the western and northern limits of the area. From this extend steep, 

 rugg-ed spurs, with a general north and south trend, gradually diminishing in 

 altitude as they recede from the parent range, which divide the region into 

 numerous parallel, narrow, often gorge-like valleys. This type of vallej^ reaches 

 its culmination in the gorge of Linville River, the wildest and most picturesque 

 stream of the Southern Appalachians, in its descent of 2,400 feet in 20 miles 

 from the Linville Falls to the foothills. The alluvial lands in the valleys, except 

 those along the Catawba for a few miles above Marion, are limited to narrow 

 strips bordering the streams, or, as on the lower Linville and many tributaries 

 of the Johns River, are altogether lacking. 



This basin has an area of 321,440 acres and is 82 per cent wooded. 



Soil. The soils of the uplands, derived from the decav in situ of quartzite, 

 slates, sandstone, and gneiss, are sandy or sandy loams, and are thin and poor. 

 Along the larger streams the alluvial lands are silty and fertile; along the 

 smaller, they are sandy and often less fertile. 



Agriculture. In the lower vallej^s corn and small grain are the common 

 crops on the alluvial lands; corn is the exclusive crop of the steeper slopes. 

 Corn, oats, grass, and apples form the staple crops in the elevated valleys and 

 on slopes at high altitudes. 



The alluvial lands of Johns River and the forks of the Catawba have been 

 severely damaged by recent freshets, which have in many places washed awaj^ the 

 soil to a depth of several feet, leaving only the rock and gravel, while in other 

 places the agricultural value has been destroyed by the deposition of beds of pure 

 sand or coarse gravel above the alluvium. Soils on steep slopes which have 

 been under tillage, especially those in corn, have also been badl}^ damaged. 



The fored. The forests, except those of a few limited valleys at high eleva- 

 tion, are confined to the slopes, nearly all of the alluvial bottoms having been 

 cleared. 



The forest is composed of hard woods, chief!}" oaks, associated with pine, 

 white or black; or of mixed hard woods, oaks, chestnut, maple, birch, linn, ash, 

 and poplar, associated with hemlock in the deep hollows and on some northern 



slopes. 



Pvoportionii of apecies in Catawba River basin. 



Per cent. 



Oaks 55 



Hemlock 5 



Linn 1 



Hickory 5 



Shortleaf pine 2 



Chestnut 10 



