170 THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



consist of White Oak, Black Oak, Chestnut, Hickory and Beech, 

 although these do not necessarily represent the composition of the 

 primeval forest. It is of interest to note that Harshberger* finds 

 in a tract of unaltered forest in south-eastern Pennsylvania not a 

 Maple-Beech combination but a mixture of Tulip-tree, Chestnut, 

 oaks, Beech and Hickory. The most mesophytic tracts of any ex- 

 tent, namely, on the Collington Sandy loam of the "Forest of Prince 

 George," show a combination of White Oak, Black Oak, hickories 

 and Tulip-tree, with Chestnut on the higher parts of slopes, and with 

 seedlings of the same species. Hence such a combination, and not 

 a Maple-Beech formation is to be considered the climax forest of the 

 region. 



Eefoeestation. — The process of natural reforestation has been 

 described in the preceding paragraphs. That this is taking place 

 over wide areas is hardly to be regretted, for much of the land in 

 question has been largely drained of its humus by the long-continued 

 growing of tobacco, sometimes on soil none too well adapted for 

 this purpose. In time the soil will regain itself and may be cleared 

 and again cultivated to advantage. In parts of the area the land 

 might well be permanently retained in forest, for much of it is 

 well suited to the growth of White Oak and other hardwoods, 

 which are increasing in value by leaps and bounds. To this end 

 some of the elementary principles of forestry should be regarded 

 by the owners of tracts of woodland. Though forest succession is 

 necessarily slow, a good deal can be accomplished in one lifetime, 

 owing to the rapid growth of the pines. These will generally plant 

 themselves over an area spontaneously, and in course of time as 

 they mature they should be removed, probably by clean cutting, so 

 as to admit light to the oak seedlings which it is taken for granted 

 will appear beneath the pines. In order to ensure their appearing, 

 planting of acorns might be resorted to with advantage. In the 

 case of an Oak-Hickory forest, selective cutting should be employed, 

 removing defective and deformed trees, also those of inferior species 

 such as the Black Jack Oak and Spanish Oak, as well as the mature 

 trees of desirable species. It is a good plan to cut from only a 



♦Bull. Torrey Club, vol. xxxi, 1904. p. 141. 



