280 THE FOEESTS OF ALLEGANY COUNTY 



were too defective for use or of undersize. The old defective trees 

 have continued to exist, and the undersized are now large enough for 

 saw-timber, but generally too few to claim attention. 



The establishment of another growth of pine like the one removed 

 can be accomplished only by another long struggle. The seed trees 

 left standing are centers of reproduction. But each of the pines 

 must spread under conditions best suited to its reproduction. The 

 White Pine of this county will establish itself in pure growth on 

 cleared land on exceptionally moist, protected, portions of northern 

 slopes, and elsewhere only under the moderate shade of young hard- 

 woods. Once established, however, the young pines do not require 

 further protection; but, as a matter of fact, they must remain sup- 

 pressed till accident or design removes enough of the hardwoods to 

 allow the pines to grow up. 



The Shortleaf Pine must spread from the few seed trees left here 

 and there by pushing into sunny, partly shaded openings among the 

 hardwoods. It makes a successful stand in such places, if it outstrips 

 or keeps up in height growth with the hardwoods. 



This reproduction of pine, which is going on now, would, if unin- 

 terrupted, require so many years that the generation of settlers who 

 saw and helped to remove the original crop of pine could not witness 

 the perfection of the returning crop. Moreover, the commercial condi- 

 tions of the region are now greatly changed from those attending the 

 former growth. The present increasing and constant demand for 

 small-sized timber in this region prevents the White or Shortleaf 

 Pine and many other useful timbers from reaching mature growth. 

 Thousands of pine props are made from very young trees, thus cut- 

 ting off all chance for the production of the more valuable mature 

 timber. 



In conclusion, it may be restated that while the present and past 

 cutting of saw-timber, ties, mining props and timber for tan-bark has 

 locally depleted or entirely exhausted the supply of timber, it has not 

 materially changed the composition of the forests now standing. The 

 original species remain, and the harchvoods promptly increase wher- 

 ever the axe, fire and grazing are withheld; the conifers come back 



