280 THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FORESTS. 



NORTH AND MIDDLE FORKS OF REDDIE RIVER BASINS (wiLKES COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 50.25 square miles; cleared, 12.75 square miles; wooded, 37.50 

 square miles. 



Surface. Mountainous, with long spurs reaching from the Blue Ridge toward 

 Yadkin River, and narrow valleys having ver}^ narrow bottoms between. 



Soil. Liight-hrown loam on the mountains, red claj^ on the foothills; none 

 of it very fertile. 



Humus and litter. Light, mostly consumed by the frequent fires. 



Agricultural value. Too rough and steep on the hills, while the narrow bottoms 

 are liable to wash. A little grass is grown in the higher coves, and a little 

 corn along the creeks. 



limber trees. Oak, 75 per cent; chestnut, 15 per cent; others, 10 per cent. 



Yield.-ljog timber, 38,880 M feet B. M.; small wood, 434,400 cords. 



Demand. Too remote from rail. The best white pine and oak bring $1 per 

 thousand feet on the stump. 



Accessibility. Roads are poor, but otherwise there would be no great 

 difficulty in logging. 



Fire. Frequent; the damage is not striking, but the forest is in very inferior 

 condition on this account. 



Second growth. There are many promising saplings, but the growth is 

 insufficient because of fire. 



Undergrowth. Light, except in ravines where are dense thickets of laurel. 



Reproduction. Deficient because of much fire; otherwise free. 



Hate of growth. Medium. 



Water po^cer. Limited, because fluctuating. There are some good sites along 

 the lower streams, however. 



Ownership. The tract is mostly divided into small holdings. 



Occupancy. About 100 families are now living on this tract. 



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



MULBERRY CREEK BASIN (wiLKES COUNTY, N. c). 



Area. Total, 26.25 square miles; cleared, 6 square miles; wooded, 20.25 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous. 



Soil. Light, especially on the ridges. There is some fair sandy loam along 

 the creeks. 



Humus and litter. Light, mostly consumed by frequent fires. 



Agricultural value. Q/0\x\ is grown on the sandy creek bottoms. Wheat is 

 grown on the clay lands, but grass is limited to a small area in the higher coves. 



