Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
tuf IN" W hlchniu dNu JuulHii'
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.


ALABAMA, Sept both, 1915
sTha general features of tbGSQuhem States. he
low the falls of the rivers. are the same, an unn-
tcrriptcd plEn covered with pine forests. On the
water courses and in the swalups, may be found
other varieties of forest trees, among which the
white and live oak and the poplar of giant size.
As tbe falls of the rivers are approached, the oak,
the hickory and chestnut become common; pass
Them and the gloom and monotony Of the piny
,rooHs are exchanged for the beautiful deep green
and endless variety of a hardwood forest The
pine region terminates, on the Savannah near Au-
rusta in the middle section of Georgia ut Mllledge-
Vile and Macon and on the Chatahoochee at Co.
lumbus. That part of Alabama lying between the
Chatahoochee and the Alabama and below line
from Columbus to Montgomery is an almost unin-
terrupted pine forest west of the Alabama there
is much of the prairie.
The most common of the forest trees in the up
per parts of Georgia and Alabama are the oak, the
hickory and the chestnut, and of each there are
several varieties The white oak, two varieties are
a native of New England; those are commonly
found on the rich bottom lands, and grow to an
enormous size. | have frequently seen them, on
the small branches of the ChatUhoochec from three
to five feet in diameter, and ascending with perfect
perpendicuarity TO the height Of sixty or seventy
feet without limb, then shooting out horizontal
branches, they stand the giants Of the forest and
like the tabled Atlas, seem to be of sufficient
strength to bear the world upon their shoulders
Next the common red oak, which grows in almost
any situation, but not large as 1T is frequently
seen in New England; there is also the yellow oak,
the black oak, and the Spanish oak, together with
a species of water oak which grows on the streams
and is an evergreen: the live oak, which as have
before mentioned, grows here in the swamps; and
a kind of oak called Black Jack, which Is small
tree and is found upon the poorest ridges. OF the
hickory there are several varieties distinguished
by the size and shape of the leaf, and the ffutthey
bear. The hickory grows in almost every situa-
ton, but never attains to great size have sell
dom seen one more than two feet in diameter.
OF the chestnut, there are two or three varieties,
but are so nearly Similar that separate descrip-
ton is unnecessary. They grow in all situations,
but are the most common upon the high rocky
ridges, which are too poor for any kind of cultva
ton, and are termed " the chestnut ridges" This
tree is often seen four and five feet in diameter near
the ground, but is seldom seen more than fifty or
sixty feet in height
The poplar, a native of the South, is a beautiful
tree and grows to great size, in some instances
even larger than the white oak. Its trunk, four or
five feet in diameter, towers to the height OF SIXTY
or seventy as erect and as uniform i'll size as the
mast of a ship, and covered with white bark; and
it is truly beautiful and majestic tree. Its nature
is similar to the Eastwood Of New England, and It's
wood is applied TO the same uses
The sweet gum, tall and beautiful tree, grows
in abundance on the low grounds. The wood is
quite tough, and is used in the mechanic arts. The
black gum tree covered with dense green foli-
age is another tree peculiarto the South. 1t bears
a fruit about the color and size OF the wild black
cherry Its wood is about as cOmJuStibie as water
itself Abundance of black walnut is found on the
streams and in the swamps The wood is valuable,
and is much used in the making Of cabinet wares
II is of Il beautiful dark color, and when well fin
ished makes excellent furniture. Red cedar is al
so found in the swomps. tits much used by coop
ers and makes the best kind of vessels. The bay
tree grows here on the water-courses 1t bears ITS
leaves through the winter and its dark green toll
are presents a striking contrast to the scared leaf
of the surrounding forest The white maple Is
quite common on the low grounds, but the wood is
of an inferior quality and but little used White
beach grows to an immense size, on the banks OF
the rivers and creeks. | have also seen few of
the yellow birch on the borders of the Chatahoo-
che. OF the pine there are two species, the long
and the short leaf The former grows in all situa-
tions the latter is generally confined to the bottom
lands. The wood of both is hard, heavy, and filled
with pitch 1t is used principally for build
ing, but is much inferior to the white pine OF
the North On the bottoms the timber IS thick and
heavy--much heavier than at the North; on the
ubiands thin and light-in many places not one
third as much timber as in an ordinary New Eng
land forest. ] had almost forgotten TO mention q
species of oak called the post oak. This is avery
valuable timber, and is second only to the red ce
dar in durability. 1t is much used for fence post;
and on the railroads.
The soil is quite various there are all grades
from the rich hammoc and bottom lands to the
rocky chestnut ridges First the red lands; This
kind of land is common throughout the Middle ant
Southern States. 1t is found Immediately on cross
ing the Hudson, but have never seen 1t in New
England. The timber on this land Is generally
mixture of oak and hickory, and sometimes LITTLE
chestnut. The soil is, when cut, a soft oily clay
and nearly of the consistency Of rye paste. This
renders the roads, III the wet season. almost impas
sable. The color varies from bright yellow t.
the brightest crimson. When dry, tits exceeding
" hard, nearly as firm as a brick. This land pro
duces excellent corn and wheat, but is very easily
affected by the drouth, and has suffered more du
ring the present continued dry weather than othe
kinds of lands Second, the gray lands; This is
species of loan, of which sand forms an importan
part It is quite light and is easily worked, anc
produces corn and cotton, but does not contain lint
in sufficient quantities TO produce wheat. Third
the yellow pine lands This is a light, rich soil
and the best of cotton is grown upon it. 1t bear
dry weather better than any other kind Of land ant
fine crops of corn and cotton are now upon it
Fourth, the bottom lands: Some Of this land is un
der cultivation on the large rivers, but most of
covered with the forest owing to the great labor o
clearing them Of the heavy timber. And perhaps
we may mention as a fifth kind, the high and ROCKY
ridges: This does not differ essentially from thu
other kinds, except the almost entire absence O
the productive principle. 1t consists in general
Ola coarse sand, thicky imbedded with small pob
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