304 THE FORESTS OF GARRETT COUNTY 



much non-agricultural land as is available for the establishment of a 

 forest reserve, is worthy of serious consideration. In the same man- 

 ner that the adoption of a national forest policy is necessary and is 

 becoming more and more possible, it is the duty and to the interest 

 of every forest-bearing state to give support to the general move- 

 ment and at the same time to determine a policy for the fullest 

 development and the best management of its forest resources. Gar- 

 rett county has a large area of rough, untillable mountain land suit- 

 able only foT forest growth. It is believed that this land should be 

 concentrated in a state forest reserve. 



While the general advice given in the present report for the care 

 of woodlands is not intended to take the place of a detailed forest 

 working plan, nevertheless, observance of this advice will go far to 

 improve the present condition of Garrett county forests. It is hoped, 

 also, that the present report will pave the way for a more detailed 

 study of Garrett county forest lands and stimulate the owners of both 

 large and small woodlots to apply the principles of practical forestry. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS. 



Garrett, as has been described in the preceding pages, is the largest 

 and most western of the counties of Maryland. Within its roughly 

 triangular shape, it has an area of 680 square miles, or 435,200 acres. 

 The northern boundary of the county is formed by Pennsylvania, the 

 southern by the Potomac river, and the western by West Virginia. 

 Allegany county lies to the east of Garrett. The dividing line is 

 straight and extends in a southwesterly direction from the crest of 

 Savage Mountain at the Mason and Dixon Line, to the confluence of 

 the Savage and Potomac rivers. The only irregular boundary of 

 Garrett county is the southern, where the county line follows the 

 windings of the Potomac river. 



The most marked topographic features of the county are four high, 

 flat-topped mountain ridges, which extend from Pennsylvania into the 

 county in a southwesterly direction. The two central ridges which 

 are known as Negro and Meadow mountains, converge near Thayer- 

 ville, whence they extend southwestward in a single but less distinct 



