203 THE FORESTS OF ST. JIAKY'S COUNTY 



surface of a well-drained hillside. In early spring, the acorns should 

 be planted in hills. It is preferable to plant three acorns to a hill. 



The brush left after cutting may be burned where this is possible 

 without injuring the trees left in the forest and at a season when there 

 will 1)6 little langer of the fire spreading. Where this is not practicable, 

 it should be scattered out over the forest floor so as not to be a hindrance 

 to reproductiou. 



The whole aim in forest management is to secure new trees of the most 

 useful kind to take the place of those cut out as soon as possible after 

 the removal of the old. For the best results it is essential that fire and 

 grazing animals be kept out of woodlots. Fire running over the forest 

 soil consumes the litter and kills the seedling and sprouts and reduces 

 the vitality of old trees and frequently kills them outright. By the 

 removal of the litter the forest soil is exposed and becomes too dry to 

 encourage the germination of tree seeds. Grazing animals do consid- 

 erable damage to woodlots and should be excluded. Cattle browse upon 

 3^oung growth and trample it down. Swine not only eat the nuts of 

 the chestnut, oaks, and hickories, but they also dig up the forest soil 

 and kill young seedlings and sprouts. 



Much <lamage to the young growth can be prevented if cuttings are 

 made during the winter months, preferably when there is snow on the 

 ground, ilarking of trees may be done in the summertime when trees 

 are in foliage, because at this time more accurate judgment can be 

 exercised as to density of stand, condition, and health of trees. 



There is very little attention paid to tlic nuuiagement of woodlots in 

 St. Mary's County. It is a simple prolilcm, however, and every farmer 

 can regulate the cutting of the timber and improvement in such a manner 

 that it will not prove a burden to him financially. Every farmer 

 should fully realize tliat protection and selection of cutting are factors 

 of prime importance in managing his woodlots to secure the highest 

 financial returns. In case woodland owners desire a special and more 

 detailed plan for the management of their woodlots, they should make 

 application to the State Forester, Baltimore, Md. 



The demand for cord wood for home consumption is not likely to in- 



