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. 97 niture. Birch oil is obtained by distillation from the bark. It seeds often and reproduces freely. Yellow Birch {Betula luted) reaches a height of 80 feet and a diameter of 36 inches, and is common in cold ravines and on northern slopes, especially at high elevations. Many of the trees are curly and yield a valuable cabinet wood. It seeds freely and reproduces well on moist land among laurel brush. Hop Hornbeam {Ostrya virginiana) reaches a height of 40 feet and a diameter of 12 inches, and is common along streams. The wood is very hard and firm. Ironwood {Carpinus caroliniana) is a small tree, seldom more than 30 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter. It occurs sparingly on moist-soiled, shady slopes. The wood is very hard and tough. Beech {Fagus americana) reaches a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 30 inches. It is common on moist lands along streams and in hollows, where it attains its greatest size, and on cold slopes at high elevations, where it forms dense groves of small trees. It seeds frequently and reproduces freely. The wood is hard, tough, and fine grained. Chestnut {Castanea dentata) is a large tree, which attains a height of 120 feet and a diameter 7 feet. It is common on nearly all soils above 2,000 feet elevation, but decreases in abundance below that, reaching its greatest development in deep hollows at about 3,000 feet elevation. The wood is rather soft, but valuable and durable, is extensively used locally for building and fencing, and is largely sawn for shipment. The collection of the nuts forms an important industry. It regenerates well from stool shoots and from seeds, which are borne regularly and in abundance. The rate of growth is very rapid, being greater than that of any other hard wood of the region. Chinquapin (Castanea pumila) is a small tree, seldom more than 40 feet in height and 24 inches in diameter. It is frequent on dry soil below 3,000 feet elevation. The wood is similar to that of the chestnut. White Oak (Quercus alba), reaching a height of 120 feet and a diameter of 5 feet, is common below 4,500 feet elevation, especially on rocky soil. The timber is regarded as superior to that of the other oaks and is largely used in the manufacture of farm implements and wagons, for furniture, and for interior finish. The bark is rich in tannin. Seed is borne abundantly and often, and reproduction is good. The rate of growth is rapid, though not so rapid as that of the red oaks. Post Oak (Quercus minor) is a small tree, seldom more than 60 feet in height and 24 inches in diameter. It is especially valued for wagon hubs. It occurs only on dry soils, generally associated with the yellow pine and black oak, and is uncommon except at low elevations, especially toward the southwestern end of the mountains. It seeds freely and reproduces well. The rate of growth is fair. *S. Doc. 84 7
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).