24 



FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



from tlie stumps of tlie smaller trees, and it should therefore become 

 one of the most valuable trees, as it is already one of the most abund- 

 ant, in the more favorable situations. 



Scarlet Oak. — Scarlet oak is perhaps more abundant than black oak 

 in the pleateau type but is less so in all other situations. This oak, 

 usually called Spanish oak and occasionally spotted oak throughout the 

 mountains, is the most abundant tree in the extreme northeastern coun- 

 ties of the region, often forming as much as 20 per cent of the forest 

 and from 40 to 50 per cent of the young grov^th. It grows rapidly 

 when young, and the smaller, quick-growing trees make a good quality 

 of lumber ; the old specimens, however, are likely to be wormy or other- 

 wise defective, and it is therefore not a desirable lumber tree. Sprouts 

 of scarlet oak are quite resistant to fire, and they can well be encour- 

 aged until more desirable species come in. 



Spanish Oalc. — Spanish oak, known as red oak throughout the Pied- 

 mont region, and to some extent in the momitains, is nowhere abund- 

 ant. It is distributed chiefly through the plateau type, and but rarely 

 ascends into the chestnut type. The timber is cut for lumber along 

 with other red oaks, and among these is second only to red oak in quality. 

 Sprouts of this tree are resistant to fire, and form a considerable part of 

 the y6ung growth on the dry hills and slopes in the plateau type. 



Blackjack Oak. — Blackjack oak occurs on the dryest and poorest sit- 

 uations at lower elevations, principally in the plateau type. This tree 

 rarely attains a size large enough for saw timber even under the most 

 favorable conditions. The presence of blackjack is usually considered 

 an indication of poor soil. 



White Oaks. 



White Oak:. — White oak occurs all over the region, but is more im- 

 portant at the lower elevations. Throughout both the plateau type 

 and the chestnut type up to 4,000 feet in elevation, this tree forms an 

 important part of the forest, attaining its best development, however, 

 in the rich coves, especially those with a more or less southerly aspect. 

 Though forming as little as 1 per cent of the forest in the rougher 

 parts of the more western counties, it may form as much as 35 per cent 

 of the merchantable forest over several contiguous watersheds. In 

 Transylvania County, in fact, as much as two-thirds of the timber is 

 white oak and post oak combined. While the quality of the white oak 

 timber now standing is inferior to that which for years has been cut 

 for staves, there is still much of good quality scattered through the 

 mountains. At present this tree is used chiefly for lumber, though re- 

 cently the bark has come into the market for tanning, but owing to its 



