68 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



cong valley is deforested. The slope of the mountain, toward 

 Musconetcong valley, is followed by the Morris canal, to which 

 fact may be due the recent cutting which probably includes 60 

 per cent, of the timber, within 15 years, and much of this has 

 been cut within 5 years. The better-growth standing ranges 

 from 8 to 20 inches in diameter and 30 to 50 feet high. This 

 larger growth prevails over the top of the mountain, where there 

 has been much less cutting. On Furnace mountain, which in- 

 cludes the portion west of the head of Pohatcong valley, the 

 timber ranges from 6 to 24 inches in diameter and 25 to 55 feet 

 in height. Here, also, there has been some recent cutting. The 

 timber is principally chestnut, with a good deal of oak, but we 

 also find maple, birch, beech, poplar, ash, butternut, &c. There 

 is no washing noticeable on the mountain slope, but there is some 

 in Pohatcong valley, especially in the peach orchards and other 

 areas which are not kept in grass or grain. 



Just southwest is Scott's mountain, which includes some 40 

 square miles of plateau, surrounded by deforested valleys of slate 

 and limestone. About one-half of the surface of the mountain 

 is forested, including all the steeper slopes. . North of the high- 

 way, from Oxford Furnace to Belvidere, the growth is decid- 

 uous ; oak, chestnut and hickory, with the usual scattering 

 birch, beech, maple, elm, poplar and ash. The best timber is 

 from 8 to 24 inches in diameter and 30 to 55 feet in height, 

 which includes about three-quarters of the whole, the remaining 

 one-quarter having been cut within 10 years. There is a little 

 hemlock near Oxford church. The southeast slope of Scott's 

 mountain, which is also followed by the Morris canal, contains 

 timber from 6 to 18 inches in diameter and 25 to 45 feet high, 

 some of which has been cut within 15 years. On the western 

 slope, toward the Delaware, there has also been some cutting, 

 and in general the best timber is on the top of the plateau, rang- 

 ing from 8 to 20 inches in diameter and 25 to 50 feet high, 

 mainly of chestnut, oak and hickory, with the other varieties 

 previously mentioned. There is a little cutting, but less than 

 on the slopes. Such slopes as are cleared show no evidence of 

 washing. The most accessible clearings are generally well cul- 

 tivated. Those less easily reached show a few signs of deteri- 

 oration. 



