102 
GEOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
ness in trees, which will compare favorably with almost any part of the 
tropics. It contains more than 20 species which have no representatives 
in the temperate climates of the old world, and a far greater number of 
species of the forms found there.” Some of our most valuable timber trees 
are wholly wanting, as the hickory. And while there are not 50 in- 
digenous species of trees in Europe which attain a height of 50 feet, there 
are above 140 in the United States, and more than 20 of these exceed 
100 feet. Says Dr. Curtis, “ In all the elements which render forest 
scenery attractive, no portion of the United States presents them in hap- 
pier combination, in greater perfection, or in larger extent than the 
mountains of North Carolina.” 
And in order to realize the extent to which this richness of forest de- 
velopment is concentrated within the area of this State, it is only 
necessary to call attention to the distribution of a few kinds which are 
dominant and characteristic. Of species found in the United States (east 
of the Rocky Mountains), there are 
Oaks, 
22, 
and 
19 
in North Carolina. 
Pines, (trees), 
8, 
U 
8 
4( U 
a 
Spruces, 
5, 
U 
4 
u u 
a 
Elms, 
5, 
u 
3 
a u 
a 
Walnuts, 
2, 
u 
2 
a a 
<; 
Birchs, 
5, 
u 
3 
u a 
u 
Maples, 
5, 
u 
5 
a u 
a 
Hickories, 
8, 
u 
6 
a a 
a 
Magnolias, 
7, 
u 
7 
a a 
a 
And as to the first and most important group of the list, Dr. Curtis 
has called attention to the very striking fact that there are more species 
of oaks in this State “ than in all of the States north of us, and only one 
less than in all the Southern States, east of the Mississippi.” 
It will be observed that the kinds of trees which characterize this flora 
include chiefly such as are most valuable in the arts. The longdeaf pine 
alone is the basis of industries whose annual products in this State are 
not less than $3,000,000. The juniper and cypress have long been a 
source of large revenues to the whole eastern region. And it is worthy 
of mention in this connection, that besides the present crop of trees, there 
are, over large areas of the swamp lands, several successive generations 
of buried forests, whose timber is in good preservation, ready to be ex- 
humed when the present growth shall have been exhausted. 
