MARYLAND WEATHER SERVICE 243 



at some distance from the Potomac on the Virginia side. The eleva- 

 tion which forms the Blue Ridge of Maryland and Pennsylvania 

 runs from Weverton to Pen Mar and thence onward into the latter 

 state. A considerable valley which is drained by Israel Creek, 

 mentioned just above, separates the two ridges at the river. The 

 valley at its mouth is narrow and steep, but a short distance back 

 from the river the south end of the Hagerstown Valley meets the 

 smaller valley of Israel Creek, which thus widens its area of farm- 

 ing land. 



The plants to be found upon Elk Ridge differ to some extent upon 

 the east and west slopes, but how far the difference is due to natural 

 variations of soil, and how much is artificial and due to the sec- 

 ondary conditions of difficulty or ease in exploiting the forest of 

 the steeper and of the gentler slopes, cannot easily be determined. 

 The rock exposures on the west slope are steeper and more broken 

 than on the east slope, in those portions of the ridge which have 

 been seen. This is clearly shown at the river section of the Ridge. 

 where the upper Potomac gives to the west face a steepness absent 

 from the other side. The crest is of sandstone as in the case of the 

 ridge at "Weverton, the valley between the two ridges is of igneous 

 rock, and the slope toward the Potomac on the west side is largely 

 shale, and is carved by small tributaries into recurring hills and 

 valleys running from the river toward the crest. 



The forest cover of the Elk Ridge area is of the oak-chestnut type, 

 and includes among the oak species the following: Quercus priniis, 

 velutina, rubra, marylandica, alba, minor, acuminata, 'palustris. 



The Chestnut is common, and the Black Walnut, the Black Gum, 

 the Mockernut Hickory, the Wild Black Cherry, the Tulip Tree, 

 the Elm and the Vellow Locust reaching the size of large trees. 

 Among the species of pine there were noted the Scrub Pine, the 

 Pitch Pine and the Table Mountain Pine ; the presence of While 

 Pine was not noted. 



Along the shale outcrops of the west face there are a number of 

 small shallow ravines in which the moisture conditions are better 

 than in other places, and in such there is often an abundant develop- 

 ment of the Paw Paw. Along the road following the west side of 

 the ridge this is noticeable. Near the river are the usual riverside 



