MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 275 



region. It forms low, dense, brushy thickets high up on the moun- 

 tains and ridges wherever the original deciduous forests have been 

 entirely cut or burned off. Being partial to the poor, shaly soils of 

 these high elevations, it serves a useful purpose in establishing a 

 ground cover, which prevents violent washing of the soil. Useful 

 timber species soon follow under the protection of the more hardy 

 Barren Oak. 



Finally, the Hackberry, Sweet Crab, Thorny Haws, Wild Plum, 

 Serviceberry, Kedbud, Nannyberry and Sumachs are small fore- 

 runners in the natural reforestation of abandoned cleared lands in 

 the valleys on the lower hills. Together with briars and other shrubs, 

 these small trees take complete possession of such lands in from ten 

 to fifteen or more years. Following this growth may be seen the 

 slow, sure introduction of the better kinds of forest trees. 



IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES: THEIR ABUNDANCE AND USES. 



The most abundant and commercially important timber trees of 

 this region are White Pine, Shortleaf Pine, Hemlock, White Oak, 

 Chestnut Oak, Eed Oak, Chestnut, Shagbark Hickory, Sugar Maple, 

 White Ash, Tulip-tree, Basswood and Black Walnut. Other species 

 represented supply much useful timber, but occur too sparingly to 

 afford large supplies. 



The original forests of this county produced considerable White 

 and Shortleaf Pine and large quantities of White Oak, Yellow Poplar 

 and Hickory timber, together with an abundance of Chestnut Oak 

 and Hemlock tan-bark. The timber was large and of excellent 

 quality, and is estimated to have frequently given an acre yield of 

 from 8,000 to 10,000 board feet, over large areas, or possibly more 

 in some localities. 



The old, slow water sawmills made but small inroads upon this 

 supply; but evidence is everywhere present of the nearly complete 

 culling made later by portable steam sawmills (Fig. 15). The latter 

 have so completely lumbered out the large sound timber on all the 

 principal streams, in the once heavily wooded coves and on the rich 

 mountain benches and gentle slopes, that at present sizable timber 

 of good quality is scarce and distant from public roadways. 



