490 FOREST KESOURCES OF WEST VIRGIXIA. 



promised iu a series of memoirs that is in coarse of publication ou the 

 distributiou of the Forest Trees of Kentucky.^ 



lu relation to the varieties of spontaneous growth found on the Bar- 

 rens of Kentucky, it is observed that the oaks are mostly of the follow- 

 ing species : Quercus coccinea, rubra, and nigra, the latter being most 

 common. The Q. alba is found, but not abundantly, and about the sink- 

 holes the Q. imbricata and Q. obtusiloba are found. There are no tulip- 

 poplars, basswoods, beeches, black walnuts, or butternuts, and but very 

 few willows or maples. The largest oaks are about 15 inches iu diame- 

 ter at three feet from the ground. 



A local law, applicable to the counties of Trimble and Oldham, and 

 the part of Carroll below the mouth of the Kentucky River, was passed 

 March 11, 1876, which was designed to prevent the range of stock along 

 the banks of the Ohio River. The preamble recites the damage being 

 done iu these places by the undermining of banks, and the attempts of 

 owners, in planting willows and other shrubs and trees of rapid growth, 

 to prevent erosion, and allows stock running at large to be taken up 

 and the owners to be fined from $5 to $15 for each offense. 



The recently-established State Bureau of Agriculture, Horticulture, 

 and Statistics, will doubtless include inquiries relating to forest re- 

 sources, in its programme of operation. 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



The West Virginia Kandboolc^ (p. 101) presents the following list of 

 timber-trees iu this State, with some notes concerning their distribution, 

 size, and uses : 



White Pine (Pinusstrohus). Seldom over 120 feet high, and not very prevalent ; tim- 

 ber equal to Pennsylvania or Michigan pine. 



Pitch Pine (P. rigida). Never over 60 feet high ; thin sandy ridges; not very abun- 

 dant, but rich in turpentine.* 



Yellow Pine {P. mitis). From 50 to 85 feet high ; tops of ridges, solitary or in small 

 clusters ; timber vahiable — not subject to warp or twist ; found in considerable 

 quantities in Raleigh, Wayne, Logan, and Lincoln Counties. 



Hemlock {Abies Canadensis). Rich mountain and table lauds; 70 to 100 feet high. 



Black Spruce (A. nigra). Banks of streams and other damp places ; a handsome tree, 

 50 to GO feet high ; of pyramidal form iu open grounds ; wood not used. 



Red Cedau {Juniperus Firginiana). Moderate-sized tree, of pyramidal shape ; thinly 

 scattered through the State ; disposed to come up as second growth on thin land ; 

 wood light and very durable. 



Holly {Ilex opaca). Mountain streams, and on gravelly and stony soil ; grows 15 feet 

 high ; wood tough, and good for turning. 



Laurel {Ealmia laiifolia). Thin cold hill-sides and mountains ; from 4 to 10 feet high. 

 Two varieties are noticed, the largest on Tygart's Valley River and other streams 

 of similar elevation ; leaves poisonous for caltle. 



White Oak (Quercus alba). Large and abundant on river-bottoms, on hill-sides, and 

 ridges; growing 75 to 100 feet high, and 2^ to 4 feet iu diameter; grows in 

 deuse woods without limbs to two-thirds of its height; bears acorns on an average 

 once in two years. 



1 The memoirs already published are : 



"Report on the Forests of Greenup, Carter, Boyd, and Laicrence Counties," by N. S. Shaler 

 and A. R. Crandall, iiart I, vol. I, 2d series, pp. 34. 



" Report on the Botany of Barren and Edmonston Counties," by John Hussey, with an 

 introduction by N. S. Shaler, part II, vol. I, 2d series, pp. 32. 



" Report on the Timbers of Grayson, Breckinridge, Ohio, and Hancock Counties," by L. 

 II. Do Friese, part IX, vol. II, 2d series, pp. 20. 



" Prepared by J. H. DissDebar, Commissioner of Immigration for the State of West 

 Virtriuia. 



3 Estimates made in a lumber interest, represent the white pine along the Greenbrier 

 Ri\ er ou its upper waters, as malciug 4 to 7 cuts of 10 feet to a tree, and averagiug 5 

 cuts to the 1,000 feet, and sometimes 40,000 foet to the acre. It grows at an altitude 

 of 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Estimates place the amount in several timber districts at 

 300,000,000 foet. 



