FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 29 



Beech. 



Beech grows chiefly on cold northern slopes and coves in the higher 

 altitudes, but occurs as scattered trees along the streams throughout the 

 mountains. There are occasional pure stands just below the spruce 

 forests, but there it is small and unmerchantable. It is cut to some 

 extent from the chestnut type, where it rarely exceeds 2 or 3 per cent 

 of the forest. In the beech and maple type, however, this tree forms 

 20 to 30 per cent of the stand, and is of large size and good quality; 

 yet owing to its limited amount, its great weight, and its remoteness 

 from transportation, it is not valued very highly. Other trees, such as 

 linn, ash, yellow poplar, and red oak, should be encouraged to take its 

 place in the second growth forest. 



Ash. 



White ash is found throughout the region, though the greater part of 

 it has been cut, except in remote situations. The best ash is in the 

 remote coves of Graham, Swain, Haywood, Yancey, and Mitchell coun- 

 ties. The tree has a range similar to that of yellow poplar, though 

 somewhat more restricted, in coves between 3,000 and 4,500 feet eleva- 

 tion. The greater part of the cut is shipped out of the State. Where 

 the woods are not burned, and seed trees are present, natural reproduc- 

 tion is usually abundant. Owing to its value and comparatively rapid 

 growth it should be encouraged. 



Buckeye. 



Yellow or sweet buckeye occurs throughout the higher coves and 

 north slopes of the chestnut type, and even extends up into the spruce 

 type. It rarely constitutes more than 2 per cent of the forest where 

 it occurs, but occasionally forms as much as 10 per cent over restricted 

 areas. Buckeye is a soft, white wood, for which there is no great de- 

 mand, though it usually forms a small portion of the cut in most of 

 the larger mills. Buckeye grows slowly when young, and linn, red oak, 

 poplar, and cucumber, which flourish in the same situations, should be 

 given preference. 



Birch. 



Two species of birch grow in the coves and on the slopes of the higher 

 mountains, and of these, sweet or black birch, or mountain mahogany, 

 as it is often called, is the more valuable. This birch forms a small 

 part of most forests above 3,000 feet, though it rarely exceeds 1 or 2 

 per cent of the forest except in the higher elevations. Yellow birch 

 is confined to cold northern slopes, chiefly above 4,000 feet. On such 



