SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



89 



Appalachians, in its descent of 2,400 feet in 20 miles, from 

 the Linville Falls to the foothills. The alluvial lands in 

 the valleys, except those along the Catawba for a few 

 miles above Marion, are limited to narrow strips bordering 

 the streams, or, as on the lower Linville and many tribu- 

 taries of the Johns River, are altogether lacking. 



The soils of the uplands, derived from the decay in place 

 of quartzite, slates, sandstone, and gneiss, are sandy, or 

 sandy loams, and are thin and poor, with few exceptions. 

 Alojig the larger streams the alluvia are silty and fertile; 

 along the smaller they are sandy and often less productive. 



In the lower valleys corn and small grain are the com- Agriculture, 

 mon crops on the alluvia; corn the exclusive crop of the 

 steeper slopes. Corn, oats, grass, and apples form the 

 staple crops in the elevated valleys and on slopes at high 

 altitudes. 



The alluvial lands of the Johns River and the Catawbas 

 have been severel}^ damaged b}' recent freshets, which 

 have in man}^ places washed away the soil to a depth of 

 several feet, leaving only the rock and gravel, while in 

 other places the agricultural value has been destroyed by 

 the deposition of beds of pui'e sand or coarse gravel above 

 the alluvium. Soils on steep slopes which have been under 

 tillage, especially those in corn, have also been badh^ dam- 

 aged. 



The forests, except those of a few limited vallevs at high 

 elevation, are confined to the slopes, nearh^ all of the allu- 

 vial bottoms having been cleared. 



Composition. — The}' ai'e formed of hardwoods, chiefly 'he forest, 

 oaks, associated with pines, white or black; or of mixed 

 hard woods — oaks, chestnut, maple, birch, linn, ash, and 

 poplar — associated with hemlock in the deep hollows and 

 on some northern slopes. 



Condition. — Nearly all south and east slopes, especiall}^ 

 at a low elevation, have been damaged by fires to some ex- 

 tent. The best hard woods have been culled from much of 

 the area, and the best white pine from the lower part of 

 the valle}^ of the Johns River and from a portion of the 

 Upper Linville. There is 3'et much hard wood, largely 

 oak, on the headwaters of the Catawbas, Johns, and Upper 

 Linville rivers. 



Reproduction. — Reproduction of hard woods is free b}^ 

 stool shoots and seed, and of pine \)y seed. Protection 

 from fire is greatly needed. This, with improvement cut- 

 tings, would soon develop:) a valuable forest. 



