XEROPHILE FORESTS OF METAMORPHIC HILLS. 59 
Xerophile forests.—The most prominent and characteristic feature 
in the vegetation of this subdivision of the mountain region is the 
xerophile forests of long-leaf pine which cover the arid rocky ridges 
to an elevation of 2,000 feet, as observed on the Chehawhaw Moun- 
tain, the highest in the State. These pine forests are open, almost 
entirely bare of undergrowth; only in the depressions on the flanks of 
the mountains a stunted growth of black-jack makes its appearance. 
At its vertical limit of distribution the pine is suddenly replaced 
by mountain oak, chestnut, and pignut hickory. Whenever on the 
summits of the pine-clad ridges at lower levels soil conditions more 
favorable to deciduous tree growth prevail the pine is obliged to give 
way to the hardwood trees. The pine timber on these mountains 
is somewhat stunted; the body of the trees is short and more or less 
knotty, and the old trees are frequently affected by dry rot, caused 
by the mycelium of polyporous fungi. It is little esteemed for lum- 
ber, but largely consumed for charcoal. There are, however, found 
exceptional tracts, with a timber growth unrivaled in density and per- 
fection. Such heavily timbered forests of long-leaf pine have been 
observed, for instance, at Hollins, in Clay County. They extend for 
miles over a narrow valley and along the rounded foothills of the 
higher ridges which rise abruptly above them on either side. These 
particular tracts of forest are not surpassed in yield and quality 
_ of timber by the best pine timber lands elsewhere east or west of 
the Mississippi River, the trees showing most vigorous growth and 
remarkable uniformity in size and averaging from 20 to 24 inches in 
diameter breast high. By actual measurement they were found to be 
of a total height of from 110 to 120 feet, the greatest height growth 
of the species on record. Of the large number of felled trees exam- 
ined in the logging camp not one was found defective. Of several 
taken at random measurements were made and the annual rings 
counted, with the following result: 
Diameter Length of Total Annual rings 
breast high | merchantable | height of tree on stump 
(inches) . timber (feet). (feet). 3 feet high. 
22 50 110 150 
24 65 120 160 
25 45 116 155 
The sapwood in none of these trees exceeded 2 inches in thickness. 
A loblolly pine felled on the border of the brooklet watering the 
valley measured 25 inches in diameter across the stump and was 
found to be scarcely 50 years old. 
The herbaceous vegetation on these pine-clad hills is of essentially 
the same character as that found on the uplands of the Central pine 
belt, denoting a dry soil. The hidden cause of such perfection in the 
development of the longleaf pine on a soil apparently as unpromis- 
ing as any of the rolling pine barrens was clearly revealed by the 
