94 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



Tahle-Momtta/ II Phw {PinuH p^nKjenit) is a medium-sized tree, whicV. 

 reaches a heigtit of 70 feet and a diameter of 24 inches. It occurs on 

 dry, rocky ridg'es between 1,.500 and 3,000 feet elevation, and is most 

 common along the Blue Ridge and on the Chilhowee and Holston 

 mountains. It reaches its greatest size in the mountains of western 

 North Carolina. It is not so large nor so valuable a tree as the short- 

 leaf and black pines. Its wiod is coai'se and sapp}'. It will grow, 

 however, on dry, rock}^ soil where the black pine does not. It seeds 

 freely and makes rapid growtn, at least when young. ^ 



Scrub P'me {Ptnus 'inrginiana) is a slender tree, seldom more than 

 80 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter, which is common on dr}', 

 sandy, or gravelly land l)elow 2,000 feet elevation. It propagates 

 freely and makes rapid growth. It is not large enough to be of 

 importance as a timber tree, though it is occasionall}^ sawn. 



Black Sjyruce {Picea mariana) is a slender tree reaching a height of 

 160 feet and a diameter of 30 inches. It is seldom found l)elow 4.000 

 feet elevation, and only around a few of the highest mountains, where 

 it forms dense forests of pure growth, or is associated with hemlock 

 on cold northern slopes or along cold streams. It seeds at intervals 

 of several years and reproduces freely if afforded the proper light and 

 soil conditions, which are generally not produced in lumbering. The 

 wood is light, but strong, and is largely used for lumber. It is the 

 chief source of wood pulp for paper. It is one of the most valuable 

 trees, and reaches its greatest individual development on the slopes of 

 the Smokj- Mountains. 



Red Sjyruce {Picea rtihra) is here a small tree, seldom 30 feet in 

 height, and unimportant. It occurs onh' in a few mountain swamps. 



Hemlock {Tsuga canadensis) is one of the largest of east American 

 trees, attaining a height of more than 140 feet and a diameter of 5 

 /feet, which is reached in the Southern Appalachians. It is common 

 along streams and on cold, wet northern slopes above 1,500 feet eleva- 

 tion. The bark is extensivelv used in tanning, and the trunk supplies 

 much rough lumber. Seeds are borne frequently, but reproduction 

 is poor, as good reproduction requires a delicate adjustment of light 

 and moisture conditions, which are seldom furnished in lumbering. 



Carolina Hemlock {Tsuga caroliniana) is a smaller tree than the pre- 

 ceding, and its distribution is limited to a few localities in the Southern 

 Appalachians. The greatest size is attained in the mountains of North 

 Carolina. It is one of the most stately of American conifers. 



Balsam {Abies fraseri) attains a height of 60 feet and a diameter of 

 2 feet. , It is exclusively a Southern Appalachian tree, being confined 

 to the summits of the highest mountains from Clingmans Dome north 

 eastward. The maximum development is attained on the high peaks 

 of the Black Mountains. The wood is soft and brittle and of little 

 value. A medicinal resin balsam is obtained from its bark. ■ 



