MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 285 



MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF FOREST RESOURCES. 



Without a much more detailed examination than was possible in 

 the brief time given the work by the writer, it would not be possible 

 to formulate an adequate plan of management for the various forest 

 types and conditions of this county. The needs of different sections 

 of the county are not the same, and would, therefore, require special 

 study. It is believed, however, that a statement of some of the 

 general needs of Allegany county forests in point of treatment and 

 utilization will not be out of place, and may even prove of consid- 

 erable practical value to intelligent owners of woodlots. Indeed, it 

 is gratifying to state in this connection that the farmers and other 

 owners of woodlands, and officers in charge of forest lands in this 

 region are remarkably well informed upon the condition and com- 

 position of their forests. The average intelligent farmer is per- 

 fectly familiar with the location and character of the principal timber 

 trees of his region, and recognizes most of them even in their younger 

 stages of growth. Such information is of great practical value, and 

 with the suggestions to be given, will, for the time being, enable 

 thoughtful men to improve their woodlots considerably. 1 



Nearly sixty years of constant drain upon the forests of this county 

 has reduced them to a state of the lowest productiveness, which has 

 in turn led to an impression among many people that this resource is 

 irretrievably gone. As already pointed out, however, the rapid 

 natural reproduction in this region is most encouraging for a recupera- 

 tion of these depleted forests if the latter can be placed under a con- 

 servative management. Moreover, it is believed that the large per- 

 centage of rocky hills and mountain land now in forest can be most 

 profitably held in this condition; in fact, much of the hill and moun- 

 tain land, once cleared and now abandoned, was evidently neglected 

 because of low agricultural productiveness. 



In conclusion, attention is called to the following general recom- 



1 For careful improvement and utilization of their forest lands owners, 

 are especially recommended to apply to the Division of Forestry, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, for Circular 21, entitled " Practical Assistance 

 to Farmers, Lumbermen and Others in Handling Forest Lands." (1898.) 



