maryland geological survey 243 



Forest Management. 



The need of more conservative management for the woodlands of 

 the county is emphasized by a statement of the following facts : 



1. The present woodland area is not producing one half the rev- 

 enue, as regards quantity and quality of produce, that it is capable 

 of doing under judicious management. 



2. A good market is certain for forest produce of nearly all kinds. 

 Prices have nearly doubled in the past ten years. 



3. The climatic and soil conditions are favorable for the growth 

 of timber. When the forest is properly protected the natural growth 

 is rapid. 



4. The species native in the county, and already established in 

 the forest, are mostly of the valuable kinds. Proper management 

 will insure a greater representation of such species in the present 

 stand and therefore greatly increase the final returns. 



5. There are many small areas, either growing up to worthless 

 brush, or exhausted farm land where agricultural crops bring but 

 small returns, which would bring profitable returns if planted to 

 forest trees. Valuable species for the purpose are chestnut, red oak, 

 pin oak, yellow poplar and locust. 



The object of forest management is to secure on a given area the 

 highest forest returns in the shortest time at the least expense. The 

 plan of procedure will difi^er with the type of forest to be managed 

 and its present condition. Under past abuse, due largely to eco- 

 nomic conditions rather than careless methods, the forests have been 

 reduced to a much depleted condition. To restore them to a high 

 state of productiveness, which is the business of forestry, will require 

 careful, systematic treatment. In applying forest management the 

 two main types — mixed hardwoods and pure pine — will require 

 very different treatment, 



mixed hardwoods. 



In mixed hardwood stands, where the forest contains a great 

 variety of tree species differing in relative value, the main object 

 should be to weed out the undesirable kinds, and to encourage tho 

 best trees of the merchantable species. In the case of the farmer's 



