Senate Doc. No. 84. 



Plate XL. 



SPRUCE FOREST NEAR SUMMIT OF WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN, VIRGINIA. (See pp. 23, 4S. ) 



Protected by a dense furest growth iind eovered by a dense growth of moss, flowers, and shrnbs, the 

 soils on the steep mountain slopes catch and store the heavy rains for use during dry seasons. 



