THE RELATION OF NATURAL 

 VEGETATION TO CROP POSSIBLIITIES 



FORREST SIIREVE 



It was one of the initial purposes of the botanical exploration of 

 Maryland to discover what relations there may be between the spon- 

 taneous vegetation of a particular geological or soil formation, or 

 a particular topographic feature, and the agricultural capabilities of 

 the same area. To what extent does the character and composition 

 of a forest or the occurrence of particular tree species give indication 

 of what crops may be expected to succeed upon the land if cleared, 

 or upon nearby land of the same character ? What indication is 

 given by the occurrence of particular native or introduced plants, 

 particularly weeds and grasses, as to the capabilities of the land upon 

 which they grow; and when those capabilities are discovered how 

 surely may the relation there existing be taken as a sure indication 

 of the same relation holding elsewhere in the state? It has been 

 said that many of the settlers in early colonial clays chose the loca- 

 tions for their homes and cleared the virgin forest in accordance 

 with the promise which the natural vegetation gave of the soil being 

 deep and rich. This is corroborated by the fact that throughout 

 Maryland the oldest and largest holdings of land are the ones that 

 are most responsive to tillage and most productive, while the small- 

 er holdings of the recent settlers occupy land which is stony, sandy, 

 poorly drained or otherwise undersirable. It goes without saying 

 that the uniform and intelligent treament of the large holdings has 

 served to improve the texture of their soils and to prevent the ex- 

 haustion of their fertility, but there is much evidence, particularly 

 on the Eastern Shore, that the virgin forest did give indication of 

 the character of the underlying soil and hence its cultural capabil- 

 ities, and that the practice of the settlers was well grounded. It is 

 also true that at the present day farmers frequently judge the char- 



