274 THE SOUTHERlSr APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



and Cranberry mountains, which divide the upper part of the basin into a series 

 of deep, narrow hollows, alternating with rough, high, and steep ridges. 



Soils. The soils of the mountainous portion of the basin are generally gray 

 loams, sandy and thin, and often very rocky. Those of the lower part are red 

 loams much deeper and free from rocks. 



Humus and liitet\ Leaf mold is scant, except in the deepest hollows where 

 it has been protected from fires. 



AgTiciiltural value. Except on the narrow alluvial strips the soils on the 

 mountains are poor, and agriculture is carried on at a decided disadvantage. The 

 alluvials in many places are sandy and porous. The red soils of the hill country 

 are by no means fertile, but are more easily cultivated than the steep and sand}'^ 

 mountain slopes. 



Timhe7' trees. Oaks, largely the scarlet and chestnut oak, form 50 per cent 

 or more of the forest; chestnut, about 30 per cent; black, white, and scrub pine, 

 from 10 to 15 per cent. In the deep hollows there is a small amount of maple, 

 linn, birch, ash, and poplar. 



Yield. The yield is about 2,500 feet B. M. per acre. 



Demand. There is a limited demand in the lowest part of the area for the 

 very best grades of hard-wood timber for shipping. There is a better demand 

 for pine for local use. 



Accessibility. The distance from the nearest point of the basin to Morganton, 

 the nearest railroad station, is too great to permit the profitable handling of any 

 but the choicest lumber. 



Second growth. Second growth is not abundant and is generally confined 

 to the woodland associated with the farms. It consists largely of pine groves 

 and scarlet oak, chestnut, and sourwood sprouts. In the burned forest areas 

 there is sometimes a considerable amount of young chestnut and oak sprouts. 



Undergrowth. Kahnia forms many thickets on rocky land, and there is a 

 considerable amount of brush which has followed fires. 



Reproduction. Young trees are generally not abundant, evidently on account 

 of the tires which destroy the seedlings. 



Rate of growth. Accretion is slow on nearl^^^ all of the mountain land. 

 White pine on the foothills makes very good growth, however. 



Water power. The streams are too small to yield more than a limited power. 



Ownership. The largest portion of the mountain land is held in large tracts. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $5 to $30 per acre; woodland, at $2 

 to $5. 



