204 THE FORESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



tion the fact that Dr. Curtis's Catalogue contains 

 nearly 2,500 sj^ecies, leaving out the mushrooms 

 (^fungi)^ of which there is about an equal number, o^ 

 almost 5,000 in all. 



Dr. Cooper in his general description of the " For- 

 ests and Trees of North America " in the Smithsonian 

 Report for 1858, says : '' Coming next " (from the 

 Canadian) " to the Appalachian province, we find a 

 vast increase in the variety of our forest trees. In 

 fact, looking at its natural products collectively, one 

 of the most striking, as compared to the rest of the 

 world between the 30th and 45th degrees of north 

 latitude, is its richness in trees, Avhich will compare 

 favorably with almost any part of the tropics. It 

 contains more than 20 species which have no repre- 

 sentatives in the temperate climates of the old world, 

 and a far greater number of species of the forms 

 found there." Some of our most valuable timber 

 trees are wholly wanting, as the hickory. And while 

 there are not 50 indigenous species of trees in Europe 

 which attain a height of 50 feet, there are above 

 140 in the United States, and more than 20 of these 

 exceed 100 feet. Says Dr. Curtis, "In all the ele- 

 ments which render forest scenery attractive, no por- 

 tion of the United States presents them in happier 

 combination, in greater perfection, or in larger extent 

 than the mountains of North Carolina." 



And in order to realize the extent to which this 

 richness of forest development is concentrated within 

 the area of this State, it is only necessary to call at- 



