72 



SOUTHERN H.\RDW00nS 



hillsides are quickly gullied by the heavy summer rains and even 

 during the winter erosion keeps up at a rapid rate because the 

 ground is not protected by snow but is alternately frozen and 



Fig. 7. Distribution of the Southern Hardwood Type 



thawed so that the top layer of soil is rapidly broken up and 

 sloughs off down hill. 



On account of the rapidity of erosion the characteristic topog- 

 raphy of the type is an alternation of sharp ridges and narrow 

 valleys. There are no natural lakes in the southern Appala- 

 chians or middle and lower Mississippi valley. 



