48 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



and between the Iron and the HoLston mountains. There 

 are many farms on the southeastern slope of the Stone 

 Mountain, and its northwestern slope is dotted with clear- 

 ings. Extensive clearings cover the southern foot hills of 

 both White Top and the Balsam mountains. There is, how- 

 ever, in this group an almost unbroken forest, at least 6 

 miles in width, extending along the mountains from Kliza- 

 bethton east to Mount Ewing, a distance of more than 00 

 miles. 



mouutain" Vo^r^ "^^^ portioH of this forest to the southwest of Damascus 

 covers the slopes of the Iron and Holston mountains and 

 much of Shady Valley, between them. It is largeh' com- 

 posed of hard wood, with which white pine and hemlock 

 are associated. For 8 miles east of Damascus the forest 

 covers both slopes of Iron Mountain. It has been slightly 

 culled, but much burned. It is lightly timbered with oak, 

 chestnut, hemlock, and some white pine. A large area 

 lying east of White Top Mountain, on the upper slope of 

 the Balsam Mountains, is heavily timbered with spruce (see 

 PI. XL) on and near the summits, while hard woods, with 

 some hemlock intermixed, occupj^ the lower elevations. 

 From the eastern end of the Balsam Mountains the Iron 

 Mountain extends almost eastward to Mount Ewing, a 

 distance of 40 miles. Its summit is dotted with a few 

 farms and pastures, but the forest on the slopes is almost 

 unbroken. It is lightly timbered with small oaks, chestnut, 

 hickories, and black pine. The forest has been severely 

 burned over large areas. A railroad has been built from 

 Damascus southwestward through Shad}' Valley, and some 

 of the finest white-pine timber in the United States is now 

 being cut there. (See PI. XXXVIII h.) 



South of this large belt of forest are a few isolated 

 mountains in the midst of the agricultural valley of New 

 River which have their slopes well timbered. The largest 

 of these are Phoenix, Three Top, and Elk mountains, 

 which lie between the north and south forks of New 

 River. Nearly 40,000 acres of this forest is unculled. 

 There are six holdings of 10,000 to 50,000 acres each; the 

 remainder is held in small areas of a few hundred aci'es. 

 The farming region of both the New and Holston river 

 valleys is dotted with wood lots sufficient to supply the 

 needs of the resident population. 



