CATAWBA RIVER BASIN. 269 



tbat thitj forest was at one time far more extensive, but that successive fires have 

 destroyed it. 



Humus and Utter. Onh' in the hollows has the ground cover been undis- 

 turbed, for nearl}^ ail of the slopes have been burned at one time or another. 

 On some of the steep southern slopes humus is almost wanting. 



Agricultural value. The bottom lands are fairly productive, but in many 

 places are too sandy and light. The upland soils are too deficient in clay and 

 too porous to be profitably cultivated, although the lower part of the valley is 

 well cleared and the middle part dotted with farms. 



Tin^her trees. Oak forms about 45 per cent, chestnut about 20 per cent, and 

 pine, largely white pine, 15 per cent of the forest. There is some sourwood, 

 hickory, birch, linn, and maple, and in a few places some tulip poplar, with 

 several small bodies of hemlock. The lower part of the valley has been partially 

 culled; no cutting has been done in the upper part. 



Reproduction. White pine reproduces well wherever it is given full light and 

 a suitable seed bed. Thickets of other trees are not infrequent where the condi- 

 tions for germination are suitable and where they have not been destroyed by 

 tires. 



Second growth. There are a few stands of young pine which are in excellent 

 condition, and some second-growth hard woods, chief!}" sprouts, in the woodland 

 adjoining the farms. The proportion of such, however, is insignificant. 



Undergroivth. Kaliuia and rhododendron form dense thickets in many places. 

 A great deal of the white-pine forest has a thick undergrowth of azaleas and 

 other shrubs. 



Rate of grouith. ^White pine makes excellent growth, but that of the hard 

 wood and hemlock associated with it is not near so rapid. The yellow pines 

 make fair growth. 



Water power. There is ample fall, but the stream is too small to furnish 

 power for a large plant. 



Ownership. The upper part of the basin is held in large tracts for specula- 

 tive purposes; the lower part is held in small tracts by residents. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $6 to |15 per acre; woodland, at $1 

 to $4 per acre. 



LINVILLE RIVER BASIN BELOW FALLS (bURKE COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. This tract includes that portion of Linville River basin lying 

 between the southern base of Table Rock Ridge and Linville Falls. 



Area. Total, 32 square miles; cleared, none; wooded, 32 square miles; 

 burned, 2 square miles. 



