223 THE PORESTS OF CALVERT COUNTY 



light may, by drying or in less direct ways, injure the productivity of 

 the soil. 



Small areas which are unfit for growing the main species of the crop 

 may be allowed to produce the natural growth if valuable or of only 

 moderate commercial value. This especially applies to the ash and 

 cypress lands and denuded areas in pine. 



After the crop has been started and the undesirable trees removed, a 

 thinning should be made of the young stands which have too many trees 

 per acre for their best development. This thinning should take place 

 only after the trees have grown 20 to 50 feet in height and dropped their 

 lower limbs. Several thinnings of this kind may be necessary before the 

 tree reaches maturity. The rule that thinning shall take place as fast 

 as material can be removed and utilized, applies to all cuttings. The 

 object of this thinning of dense stands is to allow the young trees to make 

 as rapid a diameter growth as possible, thus bringing them to merchant- 

 able sizes early. After trees have reached merchantable sizes they may 

 be cut and sold at such time and in such quantity as best serves the 

 owner's interests. This cutting of the mature crop should also be so 

 regulated that reproduction either by seeds or sprouts may take place and 

 a second crop replace the one harvested. 



No area of the county capable of producing timber and unfit for agri- 

 culture should be allowed to remain without a good timber crop. Such 

 areas are not only idle capital but self destructive through taxes. A 

 policy which aims at the proper care and utilization of the forest re- 

 sources of the county will add materially to its prosperity. 



