ridges are 5,000 feet, or more, above sea level, Their sides 
are not too steep for orehrrds, and many excellent locations 
for commercial apple growing industries may be founa in this 
region. The western ridge, between tre torder of Western Mery- 
land and West Virginiz, has been purchased, «and is being rap- 
idly cleared and pir-ntea with fruit trees, About 00,000 peach 
and apple trees have been set out here within the past Live 
years. 
The soils of Western iiaryland are chiefly of Limestone 
roigin, and may be dividea into two distinct types, accvrding 
to their location, The soils of the valley are renerally cla. 
shale, cr slate loams, or mixtures of this, ~he agricul .ural 
value of these scils differs considerably. “he slate soils a 
are considered practically wortnless, The clay and shale loams 
in tyre vallevs, nd on the mountains are very productive, anda 
sre highly esteemea for fruit growing, as well as for general 
agricultural purposes. The soiis of the greates importance 
for fruit growing are those on the mountain ridges, which are 
chiefly three distinct types, Hagerstown stony loam, Porter's 
stony loam, and Cecil loam. 
Hagerstown stony loam consists of a medium brown loam, 
which is about eight inches deep, Occassionally the amount 
of fine sand is sufficient to give the soil the cheracteror 
(oats) 
