I i '1 THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



but this is lacking in many places where the farms are scattered, 

 and in woodland areas. There the finer kinds of the woodland 

 grasses and sedges replace the blue-grass, and maintain a covered 

 surface on the more level roadside. The other plants of the way- 

 side are, to a considerable degree, the weeds which are distributed by 

 the farmers in the course of their regular work of transportation of 

 hay, or grain, and thus are most abundant near the more travelled 

 roads, but actually growing in spots where there is not so great traf- 

 fic or vigilance to keep them under control. In its characteristics 

 the lower portion of the Monocacy Valley becomes a continuation 

 of the larger one to the west, the Hagerstown Valley (Cumberland 

 Valley). 



Hagerstown Valley. — The limestone rock which once occupied 

 the region where this depression is now located has by its disintegra- 

 tion and solution, left a soil of such composition that the agricul- 

 tural uses are paramount, and but little has been left in forest. The 

 wood lots where present are noteworthy on account of the large 

 amount of the Black Locust present, and this tree is so well adapted 

 to the highly calcareous soil that it is the common roadside tree 

 throughout both this and the Monocacy limestone region. The turf 

 of the road margins is better developed in this valley, as the condi- 

 tions are more uniform. The forest when present is of Chestnut, 

 Hickory, White Oak and the two Walnuts (Juglans nigra and 

 Juglans cinerea). The slopes of the hills are not gullied by small 

 washes as is the case in the next area, and are more gentle than those 

 of the Parrs Ridge area. The general attitude is a nearly level one, 

 enoiigh slope existing for drainage, but not enough to make it a 

 hilly country. 



Some areas of considerable extent have limestone outcrops so 

 frequent as to exclude farm operations. Tree growth is usually 

 good, however, and in considerable variety. 



Sandstone Ridges. — The Blue Ridge, including the Catoctin and 

 Elk Ridges, is the eastern one of this division, and owes its present 

 height to the strata of sandstone at the crest. The slopes are usually 

 moist and well covered with a mixed forest, including the better 

 Oaks, Hickory, and Walnuts, with occasional Beeches, in general 

 becoming poorer toward the top. 



