92 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



A beech near-by measures 36 inches diameter at ground and 



29 inches 10 feet above, is 40 feet high and has a spread of 

 branches of 75 feet. 



From Hopewell and Pennington southwest to the Delaware, 

 the trees in some lots run from 2 to 8 inches diameter by 20 to 



30 feet high, and in other lots from 6 to 20 inches diameter and 

 40 to 60 feet high. There has been considerable cutting of tim- 

 ber, but no clearing of land for cultivation. 



From Pennington to Trenton the timber does not differ from 

 that on the red sandstone soil which we have previously de- 

 scribed, excepting that it is perhaps more thrifty. Near the 

 State Asylum are trees measuring from 6 to 48 inches in diam- 

 eter and 65 feet high. Good timber was also observed near 

 Trenton Junction. East of Ewingville is a tract comprising 

 some 400 acres, principally oak and chestnut, with some hickory, 

 beech and maple. A part of this is fine timber, 6 to 36 inches 

 diameter and 55 to 70 feet high. The chestnuts run up to a 

 good height without branching. A count gave 255 of these trees 

 to the acre. 



Large trees were noted in this district as follows : East of 

 Somerset, on a hill, a hickory 42 inches diameter and 70 feet 

 high, with a spread of branches of 40 feet, the lowest branches 

 being 9 feet from the ground ; near Hillcrest station, an oak 36 

 inches diameter and 50 feet high, with a spread of 100 feet ; 

 north of the 4<DO-acre tract, near Ewingville, a pin oak, 72 inches 

 diameter two feet above ground, and 42 inches diameter near the 

 forks, 7^ feet up, with a height of 55 feet and a spread of 60 

 feet ; and in front of the Presbyterian parsonage, at Lawrence- 

 ville, two oaks, the easterly one measuring 54 by 66 inches in 

 diameter two feet from the ground and the westerly one 51 

 inches diameter. These trees stand only one foot apart and 

 their branches spread from 40 to 60 feet. 



The red-shale country, extending from Somerville and Flem- 

 ington northward to Peapack and the Highlands, is deforested. 

 The small wood-lots attached to farms only represent about 3 

 per cent, of the entire area. There are scattering trees, hedge- 

 rows, orchards, and strips of timber in the little ravines, however, 

 which to some extent make up for this lack of woodland. The 

 timber is mostly oak and hickory, and there are many large 

 trees, probably of the original forest. 



