200 THE FORESTS OF ST. 31-VUY'S COUNTY 



was soon •n-aslied down into the valley below, which rendered eroded 

 areas unfit for further cultivation. (See Plate Till). The more valu- 

 able bottom land along the streams is being covered with sand and 

 gravel, washed there from higher places. Natural tree reproduction on 

 such eroded hillsides is very tardy. Scrub pine is the only tree which 

 will reclaim such areas. Farmers are, however, very cautious about such 

 clearing at the present time, and seldom clear any land which is liable 

 to erode. 



FUTUEE OF THE FOEEST UXDER JUDICIOUS MANAGEMENT. 



St. Mary's County dealers in lumber and railroad ties are very eager 

 to see both public and private interest taken in the preservation of their 

 forests, and particularly in the young growth. They realize that some 

 systematic management should be instituted if reasonable returns are 

 to be expected in the future from the timbered areas. Farmers and 

 owners of timber tracts realize that the woodlands are constantly depre- 

 ciating in value in spite of the greater demand for forest produce. The 

 best timber having been cut, the farmer is eager to find a market for 

 the less valuable species. Every farmer owns some forest land from 

 which he draws his fuel supply, fence material, and saw logs for build- 

 ing purposes. Frequently, ties, poles, and piles are cut during the 

 winter to secure some income from the woodlot to pay taxes and other 

 expenses, but usually very little care is taken as to where and how the 

 trees to be cut are selected. 



Woodland owners can enhance the value of their timber considerably 

 by making what is generally termed improvement cutting instead of 

 chopping down trees indiscriminately. Improvement cuttings can be 

 carried on in all woodlots in this county with excellent results by remov- 

 ing overmature trees, and by thinning out' undesirable species where they 

 interfere with the growth or reproduction of more valuable kinds. Such 

 a cutting gives the remaining trees enough room and light for their 

 better development. There are numerous overmature and diseased 

 chestnut, oaks, and red gum trees which are injuring the younger growth 

 about them. These should he removed graduallv as the material can 



