74 SOUTHERN HARDWOODS 



climatic conditions of the cove type ^vith its deep alluvial soil and 

 the ridge type which as its name implies occupies the overdrained 

 ridges where the soil is shallow and sterile and evaporation and 

 transpiration are at their maxima on account of exposure to wind 

 and sun. Since, then, the soil of the slope type is not quite so 

 well suppHed with moisture as the cove type nor the soil so deep, 

 only the hardier tree species will be found cHmbing up thru it 

 from the more sheltered coves. On the margin where the two 

 join it is difhcult to draw the dividing Hne by composition alone, 

 but at the upper edge where the slope type merges into the ridge 

 type no yellow poplars, cucumber trees or hemlock are found. 

 Typically its composition by number in virgin stands is as follows: 



Per cent 



Oaks 30 



Chestnut 20 



Yellow poplar 10 



Black cherry 5 



Hickory 5 



Hemlock 5 



Other species 15 



100 



The average stand per acre under virgin conditions is 5000 

 board feet. Naturally it is the most extensive type in the south- 

 ern Appalachians. It usually makes up at least 60 per cent of the 

 total area of a mountain tract. 



In the ridge type the number of species is still further reduced. 

 Chestnut and hickory occur sparingly but the important species 

 are chestnut oak and shortleaf pine. The latter preempts the 

 southern and western exposures while the chestnut oak is more 

 abundant on the cooler north and east slopes. Seldom do virgin 

 stands average more than 2000 board feet per acre. Fortunately 

 for the productive capacity of the region this type is compar- 

 atively limited in area. It usually occupies not more than one- 

 third of a tract. 



Fire is here as everywhere the great enemy of the forest. The 

 drier slope and ridge types suffer most. The latter has usually 

 been burnt over at least every other year and frequently annu- 

 ally. As a consequence most of the trees are fire scarred at the 



