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Report of the Secretary of Agriculture in relation to the forests, rivers, and mountains of the southern Appalachian region

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  • 52 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. except in the narrow valleys and coves. (See PI. XLIII.) The soils are generally thin and light, in some places sandy, rarely clayey. These mountains, however, are surrounded by agricultural valleys, except near the northwest ends of the Balsam and Newfound mountains, where these join the Unakas. The forests on the northwestern portion of the Balsam Mountains are really a continuation of those of the Great Smokies, and resemble them in the General forest species represented and in the general forest conditions. conditions. r r- e> The forests on the east side of the Balsams and on the Newfound, Cowee, and Nantahala mountains are much alike, but the Balsam Mountains are much more heavily wooded than the others, especially on their northern slopes, and have more of the softer woods, like linn, buckeye, and ash. The southern slopes of all are lightly wooded and have been injured b}' fire to some extent, so that in places the forest is open and young timber trees are scant. Much of the best timber has been culled from the Newfound and Nantahala mountains. The larger part of the forest land on the eastern spur of the Balsams (about Mount Pisgah) is under forest protection. the0reNlnvfaobund The forests of the Newfound Mountains are formed of Mountains. hard woods, largely oak and chestnut, associated with white pine. As they lie nearer the main line of the Southern Railway, and on account of the topography were easily lumbered, they have been more culled than those of the other cross chains. Some general lumbering has been done on Wolf and Shut-in creeks, and an attempt has been made to remove all the merchantable timber from some large tracts. At most, however, it amounts to only severe culling. The forests of the Cowee and Nantahala mountains are very much alike. They consist of hard woods, in which oak, chestnut, hickory, and maple form the largest element. There is almost an entire absence of coniferous growth, the hemlock, which is associated with the hard woods elsewhere, being almost wanting here. Much culling has been done in the forests at the north ends of these mountains, where they are nearer the Murphy branch of the Southern Railway. tifereBaisba0m The Balsam Mountains are more heavily timbered than Mountains. the otner crog8 ridgps Qn l)()th northern and .southern slopes there are deep, cool hollows, or coves, with fertile soil, producing vigorous growth, and as there has been very little culling these forests are very nearly primeval. They consist of typical Southern Appalachian harp
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).