56 



The Forests of MARyL-\j^D. 



in excess of 5,000 feet, and 10,482 of less ; while 4,128 acres, all below 

 5,000 feet, are in mixed hardwood and pine. On the more or less 

 steep sides of ravines and streams a slope type of woodland is found: 

 consisting of chestnut, white and red oaks, and hickory — on the upper 

 slopes; tulip poplar, gum, ash, elm, and willow — on the lower. The 

 bottom type occurs along the creeks where there is little fall, being 

 composed of ash, elm, sycamore, red maple, and red gum. A third, 

 known as the old-field type, may be distinguished frequently on 

 cleared fields that have been abandoned. These have usually grown 

 up in pine, the predominating species being lobloUy and scrub pines, 

 except in the southern part of the County, where the growth is more 

 often of scrub pine only. 



Uses of the Forests. 



A variety of products is derived from the Calvert County forests 

 annually, contributing a total revenue of over $200,000. The amount 

 cut aggregates nearly one and one-half million cubic feet, which is a 

 little greater than the estimated annual increment of all the forests in 

 the County. The local forest products are in part the output of 20 

 mills which are in operation here, and for the rest they represent the 

 cut of many individual timber operators and farmers, the latter of 

 whom contribute heavily to what is taken from the forests, selling, 

 however, only a part of it, and Using the remainder on their farms. 

 In point of value lumber ranks first, with railroad ties, piling, cord- 

 wood, mine props, poles, export logs, and shingles following in the 

 order named. 



Manufacturers of wood and dealers in lumber are not numerous - 

 in this County, and the local timber business is largely in the hands 

 of the sawmill men and individual operators. These producers enjoy 

 the immense advantage of easy accessibility to nearby markets, in that 

 no portion of the County is farther than five miles from navigable 

 water, while an improved highway passes directly through it from 

 north to south. There is also some railroad transportation, though 

 limited to but 10 miles which pass through east and west in the ex- 

 treme northern part. 



The forests of Calvert County have been culled repeatedly, and 

 the few heavy stands that still exist are found chiefly in the central 

 and south-central portions. Destmctive lumbering has been carried 

 on here for many years and most of the cutting that has been con- 

 ducted throughout the County has been wasteful in method, and im- 

 provident where it concerned a future supply. Fortunately forest 

 fires, prevalent and prejudicial to good forests in many sections of 



