SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



85 



Distrihiition. — All this tract is foi-est land except the Ti^e forest, 

 creek bottoms and a few mountain coves, which have been 

 cleared and together amount to 11 per cent of the area. 

 The denser portions are in the coves at the higher altitudes. 



Composition. — There is a noticeable contrast between 

 the forests of the interior mountain region and of those 

 of this region about the headwaters of the Tallulah and \ 

 Chattooga rivers. Here the oaks are in greater predomi- 

 nance, and the hickories and Southern pines are more 

 abundant, while beech, birch, maple, buckeye, and other 

 lovers of cool air and abundant moisture are notably less. 

 White pine and hemlock hold to the higher altitude, but 

 are noticeably rare along the foothills. > 



Condition.- — In condition, also, the forest is inferior to 

 that of the highlands. The injuries by fire are greater. 

 The rate of growth is further retarded by drought, and 

 probably by occasional spring frosts killing buds and 

 young leaves. The greater portion is in the condition of 

 natviral forest, with many old, crooked, fire-scarred, and 

 otherwise defective trees and inferior species, and with 

 subordinate saplings, crooked and retarded. Because of 

 prevalent fires the stand is imperfect, manj^ spaces being 

 covered with mere brush where a stand of good timber is 

 possible. Along the line of the old railroad grade from 

 Walhalla to Rabun Gap much burning was done at the 

 time of grading, and now the portion then severely burned 

 is covered with a dense stand of saplings, principally oaks 

 and hickory. 



Reproduction. — The absence of protection from fire on 

 its dr}' slopes would be the main difiiculty in bringing this 

 forest into good condition, as sprouts and seedlings spring 

 up quickly where fire can be prevented. 



The effect of the no-fence law is plainly noticeable south 

 of the Chattooga River, where the forest is more severely 

 injured by fires, which are there fiercer because of more 

 combustible material. 



TOXAWAY RIVER BASIN. 



[52,243 acres; 95 per cent wooded ] 



This basin drains into the Atlantic through Savannah Topography. 

 River. The headwaters rise far back in and in fact have, by 

 erosion, almost worked their way through the Blue Ridge. 



The principal peaks about the headwaters are: Sheep 

 Cliff, 4,6.53 feet; Double Knob, 4,1:17 feet; Great Hogback, 

 4,700 feet, and Cold Mountain, 4,500 feet. The descent 



