48 



In this report fifteen main divisions are recognized and some 

 of them are subdivided into two or three. The divisions fall 

 naturally into two classes, namely, the hill country or mineral 

 region covering about two fifths of the state, and the coastal 

 plain region. The latter is poor in minerals, water power, and 

 mountain scenery, but rich in agricultural and timber resources. 

 The line between them is called the "fall line," because most of 

 the rivers which cross it have falls there. 



The regions comprising the hill country are: (i) Tennessee 

 valley; (2) coal region, northern and southern portions; (3) 

 Coosa Valley ; (4) Blue Ridge ; (5) Piedmont. Those comprising 

 the coastal plain group are: (6) central pine belt; (7) black 

 belt; (8) Chunnennuggee Ridge; (9) post oak fiatwoods; (10) 

 southern red hills; (11) lime hills; (12) limesink region; (13) 

 southwestern pine hills; (14) Mobile delta; (15) coast strip. 



In describing each geographical division the same general 

 plan is followed, though the amount of space devoted to each 

 varies with the character of the country. The main headings 

 are: Location, area, and external relations; references to previous 

 literature; geology and soils; topography and hydrography; 

 climate; forest types; lire; list of trees (with relative abundance 

 and habitat of each) ; economic aspects, such as density of 

 population, relative area of forests and clearings, status of stock 

 laws, changes in relative abundance of certain species, principal 

 forest products and wood-using industries. The location and 

 boundaries of the different divisions and subdivisions are shown 

 on a map. The text is supplemented by sixty-three half-tone 

 illustrations from original photographs. An excellent bibliog- 

 raphy of Alabama geography is included. 



The author has decided views concerning the effect of fires 

 on longleaf pine, and, as they are somewhat at variance with 

 ideas held by foresters generally (based on experience with 

 other types of forest), it may prove of interest to quote him. 

 Among other things he says : 



"In general the effect of fire in a forest is to keep down under- 

 brush and trees with thin bark or low branches, and thus favor 

 the growth of trees with thick bark and clear trunks, such as 



