SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN EEGION. 



97 



niture. Birch oil is obtained by distillation from the bark. It seeds 

 often and reproduces freeh'. 



Yellow Birch {Betula lutea) reaches a height of 80 feet and a diame- 

 ter of 36 inches, and is common in cold ravines and on northern 

 slopes, especiall}' at high elevations. Many of the trees are curly and 

 yield a valuable cabinet wood. It seeds freely and reproduces well on 

 moist land among laurel brush. 



Hop Hoimheam ( Ostrya virginiana) reaches a height of 40 feet and a 

 diameter of 12 inches, and is common along streams. The wood is very 

 hard and firm. 



Ironwood ( Carpinm caroliniana) is a small tree, seldom more than 

 30 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter. It occurs sparingly on 

 moist-soiled, shady slopes. The wood is very hard and tough. 



BeecJi {Fag us americana) reaches a height of 100 feet and a diam- 

 eter of 30 inches. It is common on moist lands along streams .and in 

 hollows, where it attains its greatest size, and on cold slopes at high 

 elevations, where it forms dense groves of small trees. It seeds fre- 

 quently and reproduces freely. The wood is hard, tough, and fine 

 grained. 



Chestnut {Castanea dentata) is a large tree, which attains a height of 

 120 feet and a diameter 7 feet. It is common on nearly all soils above 

 2,000 feet elevation, but decreases in abundance below that, reaching 

 its greatest development in deep hollows at about 3,000 feet eleva- 

 tion. The wood is rather soft, but valuable and durable, is exten- 

 sively used locally for building and fencing, and is largely sawn for 

 shipment. The collection of the nuts forms an important industry. 

 It regenerates well from stool shoots and from seeds, which are borne 

 regularh^ and in abundance. The rate of growth is very rapid, being 

 greater than that of any other hard wood of the region. 



Chinquapin {Castanea pumila) is a small tree, seldom more than 40 

 feet in height and 24 inches in diameter. It is frequent on dry soil 

 below 3,000 feet eles^ation. The wood is similar to that of the chestnut. 



White Oak {Quercus alba), reaching a height of 120 feet and a diam- 

 eter of 5 feet, is common below 4,500 feet elevation, especiall}' on rocky 

 soil. The timber is regarded as superior to that of the other oaks and 

 is large!}' used in the manufacture of farm implements and wagons, 

 for furniture, and for interior finish. The bark is rich in tannin. Seed 

 is borne abundantl}' and often, and reproduction is good. The rate 

 of growth is rapid, though not so rapid as that of the red oaks. 



Fost Oak {Que7'cus mino?') is a small tree, seldom more than 60 feet 

 in height and 24 inches in diameter. It is especially valued for wagon 

 hubs. It occurs onlj^ on dry soils, generall}' associated with the yellow 

 pine and black oak, and is uncommon except at low elevations, especially 

 toward the southwestern end of the mountauis. It seeds freely and 

 reproduces well. The rate of growth is fair. 



*S. Doc. 84 -7 



