ALLEGIILNY Mousrrstes. It extends in a general north-east direction, from the southern boundary of the state along the Cumberland Moun tains to the Greenbrier Ridge, and along Laurel Range to Cheat River, which breaks through it near 39° 20' N. let., and thence to Pennsyl vania, where it goes by the name of the Laurel Hills. The extensive region inclosed by this line and the Blue Ridge is widest in the southern part ; between the southern boundary of the state and 37° 25' N. lat.
it extends 150 miles east. and west, but north of that parallel it hardly ever exceeds or falls much short of 90 miles. The most elevated points of this region are the peaks of Otter, which occur in the Blue Ridge near 37° 35' N. lat., and whose highest summit is 4260 feet above the sea, and the White Top Mountains, situated near the place where the three states of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are contiguous, and whose highest summit is still more elevated. These however are single summits, which are not frequent in this mountain system, as the upper edges of the ridges extend iu nearly straight lines, which at certain distances, usually from eight to ten miles, are broken by narrow depressions, through which gaps the roads run.
The general elevation of the ridges however seems to vary between 2500 and 3000 feet, except towards the banks of the Potomac, where it sinks to between 1400 and 1000 feet above the sea.
South of 37° N. lat. there are, besides several smaller ones, four large parallel ridges, called, from west to east, the Cumberland Moun tains, Clinch Mountains, Iron Mountains, and the Blue Ridge, which are connected by the Great Ass Mountains, and other transverse ridges. This section of the mountain region appears to be more favoured by nature than any other. It is well watered by rivers of gentle current, and free from rapids or other impediments to naviga tion ; the valleys are rather wide, and the soil is black and of the best quality. Cultivation is successfully carried on nearly to the northern extremities of the valleys ; the mountains inclosing which are steep, but almost entirely covered with large forest-trees, such as chestnut, beech, walnut, elm, black and white oak, maple, ash, poplar, and buck-eye. The principal articles of cultivation are maize, wheat, rye, oats, hemp, flax, and potatoes. The orchards are generally planted with apple- and peach-trees and views, this being one of the best grape countries in Virginia. On the mountains are good pastures, and many horses, cattle, and hogs are reared.
North-east of this section lies that which is drained by the Kanawha. It is also traversed by four larger ridges, of which the two most southern preserve the names of the Blue Ridge and Iron Mountains; but the continuation of the Clinch Mountains ie called Walker's Moun tains west of the Kanawha, and Peter's Mountains east of that river.
The most northern ridge is called Great Flat Top, and is connected with the Great Ass Mountains. A transverse ridge running nearly due north and south, near 80° 15' W. long., connects Peter's Moun tains with the Iron Mountains, and these with the Blue Ridge. This section is probably the most elevated part of the mountain system south of the Potomac ; where the Kanawha is joined by the Green brier River its surface is 1333 feet above the sea. The river runs sometimes for many miles between high rocks rising almost perpen dicularly from the water's edge. In other places level tracts, hardly ever half a mile wide, but of some extent, are found near the banks; but they do not constitute what is called a river bottom, being many feet elevated.above its level in the time of the freshets. These are the only tracts which are fit for cultivation, and on which considerable quantities of maize, potatoes, hemp, and flax are raised. The moun tains are generally covered with tall trees.
All the waters collected in tho two sections already described run off to the Ohio by the Tennessee and Great Kanawha rivers, but farther north the greater part of the drainage flows into the rivers which fall into the Atlantic. The watershed between these rivers and those which run to the Ohio is formed by a continuous ridge, which on the banks of the Kanawha is called Peter's Mountain, but farther north is known as the Allegheny Mountains. The wide space east of the Allegheny Mountains and west of the Blue Ridge is traversed in all its length by a chain known as the North Mountain, or Great Kittatinny Chain. The western districts of this section are traversed by numer ous ridges rising from 1000 to 1200 feet above the sea, but between them along the large rivers are valleys from one to two miles wide, where maize, wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, flax, and hemp are grown. They are however better adapted for pasture ; and live stock, with butter and wool, constitute the principal articles for tho market. Those parts of this section which are contiguous to the Blue Ridge have wider valleys and an equally good soil, which pro.