MARYLAND WEATHER SERVICE 257 



In the more moist places of the deep or shady valleys the plants 

 like Vagnera, Dioscorea, Monotropa, Botrychium virginianum, Ger- 

 anium maculatum, Polygonatum biflorum and Oakesia are common. 

 Along the roads Baptisia is associated with the Gaylussacia as at the 

 other stations, and occupies similar situations. Kalmia while still 

 common does not form so large an element of the shrubby growth 

 as was the case on the Blue Ridge. 



On the road from North Mountain to Fort Frederick, however, 

 there are drier areas than in the immediate vicinity of the Moun- 

 tain, and in such there is an abundance of Kalmia and Bear Oak, 

 often associated with young Pine on hillsides cut over within a few 

 years. (Plate XXVIIL, Fig. 1.) 



Roadsides. — Along the roadsides, adjacent to the wooded areas 

 there is an abundant vegetation somewhat different from that seen 

 elsewhere ; a large proportion of DicJcsonia forms conspicuous dis- 

 plays along the fence rows, while the shrubbery consists of Sassa- 

 fras, Rabus, Pinus, and a few oak saplings, the whole forming what 

 the landscape gardener would call a "Border Planting" though here 

 naturally developed. (Plate XXVIIL, Fig. 2). The Laurel is 

 often set off in such a background to the best advantage, and if this is 

 present in the border, the Sweet Fern is likely to be present nearby. 

 The soils upon which this association of species occurs is usually 

 a weathered shale, and the best examples were seen near Hancock, 

 along Pig-skin Ridge. 



Shale Ridges. — The soil conditions between Xorth Mountain and 

 Hancock are unfavorable to extensive farm operations, hence the 

 land has been largely left in forest, especially upon the shaly 

 ridges. The forest composition changes somewhat, and there in 

 an increase in Scrub Pine and Table-Mountain Pine. The State 

 at this point is narrow from north to south, and there is not suffi- 

 cient distance between the high ground and the Potomac to give any 

 considerable amount of level land, the stream erosion working upon 

 the shale soils to produce steep-sided valleys and usually narrow 

 topped ridges. These ridges tend to unite toward the north at the 

 head of the comparatively short drainage basins of the small streams 

 between them and then the land surface becomes more level, and 



