Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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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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  • SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 85 Distribution.—All this tract is forest land except the The forest. creek bottoms and a few mountain coves, which have been cleared and together amount to 11 per cent of the area. The denser portions are in the coves at the higher altitudes. Composition.—There is a noticeable contrast between the forests of the interior mountain region and of those of this region about the headwaters of the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers. Here the oaks are in greater predominance, and the hickories and Southern pines are more abundant, while beech, birch, maple, buckeye, and other lovers of cool air and abundant moisture are notably less. White pine and hemlock hold to the higher altitude, but are noticeably rare along the foothills. Conditio?).—In condition, also, the forest is inferior to that of the highlands. The injuries by fire are greater. The rate of growth is further retarded by drought, and probably by occasional spring frosts killing buds and young leaves. The greater portion is in the condition of natural forest, with many old, crooked, fire-scarred, and otherwise defective trees and inferior species, and with subordinate saplings, crooked and retarded. Because of prevalent fires the stand is imperfect, many spaces being covered with mere brush where a stand of good timber is possible. Along the line of the old railroad grade from Walhalla to Rabun Gap much burning was done at the time of grading, and now the portion then severely burned is covered with a dense stand of saplings, principally oaks and hickory. Repyroduction.—The absence of protection from fire on its dry slopes would be the main difficulty in bringing this forest into good condition, as sprouts and seedlings spring up quickly where fire can be prevented. The effect of the no-fence law is plainly noticeable south of the Chattooga River, where the forest is more severely injured by fires, which are there fiercer because of more combustible material. TOXAWAY RIVER BASIN. [52,243 acres* 95 per cent wooded ] This basin drains into the Atlantic through Savannah Topography. River. The headwaters rise far back in and in fact have, by erosion, almost worked their way through the Blue Ridge. The principal peaks about the headwaters are: Sheep Cliff, 4,653 feet; Double Knob. \AYi feet; Great Hogback, 4,700 feet, and Cold Mountain, 4,500 feet. The descent
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).