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10 <br />• the north-facing slopes. Besides forming a dense thicket, the vegeta- <br />tion also lays down an annual layer of organic debris, sometimes to a <br />depth of several centimeters. This debris completely covers the actual <br />ground surface, making surface reconnaissance impossible in places. It is <br />conceivable that where survey crews penetrated the heavily vegetated <br />areas with negative results, sites might in actuality exist beneath <br />the ground cover and leaf mold. <br />Another factor affecting the selection of areas for survey falls <br />within the realm of cultural disturbance. Much of the low-lying and <br />relatively flatter ground is under cultivation. In order to preserve <br />good relations with landowners, any land with standing crops was elimi- <br />Hated. Previously cultivated areas, that were in pasturage at the time <br />• of survey, were examined as little damage would result from walking <br />across them. Such areas are considerably disturbed and provided ]united <br />results, due to plowing and the density of pasture grasses. <br />Slope, aspect, vegetation coverage, and cultivation are the primary <br />factors determining the degree of survey effort expended in any given <br />portion of the survey area. One other factor deserves mention however, <br />as it also influenced the extent of survey coverage in certain cases. <br />Landowner or tenant permission is necessary prior to surveying a tract <br />of land. Some of the survey area is publicly owned but a substantial <br />percentage is in private hands. In most cases permission was granted <br />to enter and survey. However, a few landowners denied access to their <br />property. In these cases, the area was identified on the tract <br />outline maps as "Not field checked". Also included in this <br />category are areas that were overlooked during the survey, and a portion <br />~_ <br />of the cultivated land that was not accessible or that could not be <br />observed from a distance. <br />