YADKIN KIVER BASIN. 279 



Pro}>ortions of timber species in Yadkin River basin Continued. 



Per cent. 



Maple 1 



Black pine 3 



White pine 2 



Black gum 2 



Hickory 5 



Shortleaf pine 1 



ROARING RIVER BASIN. 



Area. Total, 83.75 square miles; cleared, 21.25 square miles; wooded, 62.50 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous, except the narrow creek bottoms, which are 

 level. 



Soil. Light-colored loam, shallow except along the creek bottoms, where it 

 is sand3\ 



'Agricultural value. Corn is grown with the aid of fertilizers on the creek 

 bottoms. Grass does well along the crest of the mountain and in the higher 

 coves. The lower ridges and slopes are not agricultural land. 



Timher trees. Oak, 70 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; white pine, hemlock, 

 black pine, etc., together, 10 per cent. 



Yield. Ijog timber, 42,880 M feet B. M.; small wood, 607,200 cords. 



Demand. Nominal, owing to difficulty of access, long haul, and bad roads. 

 The most accessible of the best might bring %1 per thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. The higher slopes are steep, and the present roads poor and 

 subject to the wash of creeks which either cross or follow them. 



Fire. Frequent tires on the dry ridges exposed southward have greatly 

 injured the forest by preventing reproduction. But little marketable timber has 

 been killed, however. 



Second growth. Inferior because of fires and defective trees remaining from 

 the old forest. 



Undergrowth. Light, except in ravines where laurel is dense. 



Rejproduction. Free, except for fire. 



Rate of grmoth. Rapid, except on driest ridges. 



Water jxnmer. Numerous small powers along the branches and on the main 

 stream, but the flow is inconstant and hard to hold. 



Ownership. Numerous small tracts are held by resident owners. 



Occupancy. The tract is dotted with small clearings. About 250 families 

 are living in this basin. 



Prices of land. From 50 cents to $15 per acre. 



