MARYLAND WEATHER SERVICE 245 



Of these Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium ruta-muraria and 

 Pellea were .restricted to a few small outcrops of limestone, along 

 the west slope of the ridge. 



In the damp places, where there was less of forest cover 'Lobelia 

 cardinalis and Mimulus ringens are found in frequent association, 

 and Lobelia syphilitica 'is usually present. 



The Main Axis. — The greater elevation of the hody of the Blue 

 Ridge, gives portions of that area a drier character .'than on the 

 less elevated Elk Ridge, but the character of forest does not differ 

 to any considerable degree until the northern end of the Ridge is 

 approached where there is a tendency toward greater moisture 

 through higher rainfall. The upper portions of both ridges are 

 covered with a nearly continuous forest, but extensive clearings for 

 planting of peach orchards, makes the general appearance of the 

 woodland ragged. The forest fires have also done damage, but 'there 

 is not as yet the fire type of growth such as was Inoted for the top 

 of Catoctin, where the Bear Oak was so conspicuous a feature of 

 the region. The valley lands are mostly in good cultivation, but 

 on the higher slopes the soil is often only roughly cleared, and 

 poorly cared for, resulting in a persistent crop of brambles (Rubus 

 sp. and Smilax) with scattering Sassafras. Under the same condi- 

 tions such rank weeds as the Phytolacca decandra, Datura stramon- 

 ium, Echium vulgarc, Chenopodium album, Solarium carolinense are 

 found in considerable abundance. 



Roadsides. — Along the roads where there are scattered trees, very 

 often of the Black Locust, there are occasional clumps of the Sweet 

 Sumach which closely resembles its poisonous relatives, the "Poison 

 Ivy," but has more hairy twigs and fruit. Anthemis cotula is a 

 common plant where there has been considerable traffic, and Malva 

 rotundifolia occurs about the dooryards of the farm-houses. Near 

 the barns and other buildings Xanthium spinosum is not rare, and 

 Dipsacus sylvestris is scattered along the pikes. The roadside grass 

 is a feature of the herbaceous vegetation both in the Hagerstown 

 and in the Frederick Valleys. It extends as a turf from the fields 

 to the actual roadway of the pikes and other roads, even in thin 

 soils. This cover of Poa pratensis when not cut and broken by 



