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FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



Blach Locust. — Black locust grows almost everywhere below 3,500 feet, 

 but chiefly in the rich coves and slopes. Little merchantable locust is 

 ROW standing, except on areas where the timber is being preserved, as 

 this tree has been exploited for many years, first for ship building and 

 later for insulator pins. At the present time its chief use is for fence 

 posts. Reproduction of locust is comparatively rare through the forest, 

 but it comes up readily in old fields on the lower slopes of the chestnut 

 type, where it grows very rapidly. 



Dogwood. — Dogwood grows all through the region, but more espe- 

 cially in the plateau type and the lower elevations of the chestnut type, 

 though it is nowhere abundant. Where it could be reached readily by 

 road or railroad, it has been cut for shuttle blocks. Dogwood is a very 

 slow though persistent grower, and will be of little value in the future 

 forest. 



SilverheU. — Silverbell, known through the mountains as box elder, 

 bellwood, or tisswood, is of merchantable size only on the higher slopes, 

 mixed with hemlock, yellow birch, and sugar maple. It is cut by a few 

 of the larger mills. It extends into the plateau type along the larger 

 streams, but does not there attain merchantable size. 



Holly. — Holly grows along the rich bottoms close to the streams in 

 the deep valleys of the higher mountains, where it occasionally attains 

 a size of from 1 to 1 1-2 feet in diameter. Owing to its inaccessibility 

 and the small amount obtainable, it is seldom cut into lumber, which 

 usually can be disposed of only by special orders. 



Sycamore. — Sycamore is limited to rich bottoms and along the 

 streams, mostly at lower elevations. In favorable soil it attains a very 

 large size, and is cut to some extent for lumber. It is used locally and 

 in furniture manufacture. 



FOREST AlVD ECONOMIC CONDITIONS BY COUNTIES. 



The forest and economic conditions of the various counties differ 

 according to physiographic features and to transportation facilities. 

 A brief description of these conditions is given so that the recommenda- 

 tion for proper forest management may be made more specific and 

 definite. 



CHEROKEE COUNTY. 



Cherokee, the most western county, has an area of approximately 

 288,000 acres. All but the southernmost part is drained by the Hia- 

 wassee River, which crosses the center of the county from east to west. 

 The topography is very rugged, the range in elevation being about 4,000 

 feet ; and except along the valley bottoms the country is not well adapted 



