FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



By J. S. HOLMES. 



THE REGION. 



It is probable that Western JSTorth Carolina is more widely known for 

 its fine climate, pure water, and beautiful scenery tban for any others 

 of its natural advantages. Thousands of health and pleasure seekers 

 come each winter to this "Land of the Sky" to escape the rigors of the 

 northern and eastern states, while tens of thousands flock each sum- 

 mer from the south. The entertainment of these summer and winter 

 visitors or tourists forms a most important and promising industry, for 

 they bring into the country each year from two and a half to three mil- 

 lion dollars. The large part that the forests play in the tourist traffic, 

 by increasing the purity of the streams and making the country more 

 beautiful and interesting, is not generally realized ; yet forest and stream 

 and climate are Western ]N"orth Carolina's most valuable assets. With 

 the conservation of the forests, the improvement of the roads, and the 

 extension of railroads, the attractiveness as well as the accessibility of 

 the country will be tremendously enhanced, and the number of visitors 

 will steadily increase. 



Of even greater economic importance are the timber resources. The 

 hardwoods of the Southern Appalachians are as widely known among 

 buyers and users of wood products as the climatic advantages are by the 

 traveling public. Oak, chestnut, poplar, cherry, walnut, and other 

 woods are shipped to all of the eastern states, even to Canada and to 

 Europe; and furniture made in ISTorth Carolina from wood grown in 

 these mountains goes all over the world. 



Agriculture, which in most parts of the State stands first among the 

 important industries, takes third place in the mountains, and, if only 

 those farm products which bring a cash return are counted, is unim- 

 portant, though considerable quantities of apples and cabbages are 

 shipped out of the region, and com, cattle, chickens, eggs, butter, fruit, 

 and garden truck are sold locally. 



PHYSIOGKAPHIC FEATURES. 



A portion of the Blue Kidge extends across Western I^orth Carolina in 

 a southwesterly direction from Fisher Peak (3,609 feet) on the Virginia 

 line to Eabun Bald (4,600 feet), just across the line in Georgia, a dis- 



