FARMING LOGGED-OFF INLANDS TN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 5 
TRANSPORTATION. 
Most of the farms studied are located east of Kent, which is on the 
main line of the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Oregon-Wash- 
ington Railroad & Navigation Co., Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and 
the interurbun electric line between Seattle and Tacoma. The valley 
highways between Seattle and Tacoma are excellent, much of the way 
being concrete road. There are some miles of concrete road directly in 
the areas studied, and practically all of the remaining roads in the terri- 
tory are improved gravel. The farmers around Gig Harbor are 
furnished transportation by a municipal ferry line to Tacoma, and 
those on Vashon Island have steamer connections with Tacoma and 
municipal ferry connections with Seattle. Altogether, local transpor- 
tation could be considered excellent. The accompanying map (fig. 1) 
shows the location of these farms. 
TIMBER. 
The original forest cover in the area was Douglas fir, cedar, and 
hemlock, the fir predominating. In most cases at least a part of the 
timber had been logged off at the time the settlers purchased the land, 
though a few of the earliest settlers purchased land covered with vir- 
gin timber. This stand of virgin timber was exceptionally heavy. 
Stands running more than 100,000 feet per acre were not at all uncom- 
mon, and in some small areas it ran as high as 300,000 feet per acre. 
Many of the trees were 200 feet or more in height and from 4 to 8 
feet in diameter at stump height. This exceptionally heavy growth 
of timber makes the problem of land clearing one of the most difficult 
with which the settlers have to contend. 
The agricultural worth of the soils in this area is not readily deter- 
mined by the plant covering, since the distribution of plants depends 
more upon soil water than upon soil composition and texture. How- 
ever, since the agricultural value of these uplands depends largely 
upon the capacity of the soil to retain moisture, some suggestions may 
be gained from the plant covering. 
The less desirable uplands, those having excessive drainage, are 
usually conspicuous by an abundant growth of madrona, manzanita, 
evergreen huckleberry, and mountain balm. The original timber 
stand was also much lighter and is indicated by the smaller stumps. 
On the soils which are better able to retain moisture, and therefore 
more desirable for agricultural purposes, a considerable amount of 
alder, cedar, hemlock, vine maple, salal, and Oregon grape is found. 
The "alder bottoms" are considered among the best soils of the region. 
CLEARING THE LAND. 
The problem of getting the land cleared after the merchantable 
timber has been taken off is not limited to the removal of the large 
stumps and snags. The ground is usually littered with a mass of dead 
tops and branches, and a large part of the land which has been lying 
idle for a number of years is covered with second growth and dense 
underbrush, all of which must be removed before the land can be made 
useful for agricultural purposes. Before any attempt is made to 
clear the laud, the settler should have some knowledge as to the agri- 
cultural value of the soil. 
