p,,Mi£aM^J^^-^^^ flh^^ M^ X jLi C' r v./ 1\ jti o --OF BALTIMORE COUNTY F. W. BESLEY State Forester BALTIMORE, MARVi .A iv; :• AUGUST, 192; MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY F. W. BESLEY. State Forester. THE FORESTS —OF— BALTIMORE COUNTY BY F. W. BESLEY, State Forester BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AUGUST, 1921 STATE FORESTER'S OFFICE 815 CALVERT BUILDING BALTIMORE F. W. BEiSLEY. State Forester KARL E. PFEIFFER Assistant Forester JOiSHUA A. COPE Assistant Forester SAMUEL CQiROBIN Assistant Forester INJELLIE E. WHITCKAFT Secretary SARA M. REESE Clerk ooouments oiviaioN CONTENTS. Page. Initroduction 5 Land Classification 5 Distribution of the Forests 6 Stand and V'alue of Saw Tim^ber by Election Districts 7 Description of the Forests 6 Ridge Type 7 Slope Type 7 Bottom Type 7 Commercial Types , 7 Hardwood Type 8 Pine Type 8 Mixed Type 9 Native Forest Trees 9 List of Trees 9-11 Important Timber Trees and Their Chief Uses 11 Oaks :■. . . .-. :tt: . ,':::"'. 11 White Oaks! .\ ' 11 Red Oaks ' 12 Chestnut ,....: 12 Tulip <>Poplar . . . . ,' ■. 13 HicKory 13 Locust 13 Ash 13 Black Walnut 14 The Lumber and Timber Chit 14 Summary ^ 15 Lumber 15 Veneer Logs 15 Railroad Ties 15 Poles 16 Copper Poles 16 Piling 16 Cordwood 16 Miscellaneous Products 17 The Wood-Using Industries 18 Men Employed in Maryland by Industries 18 Amount of Wood Used, Source and Cost 18 Protecting the Forest 1" Forest Fires 18 The Effect of Fire 18 Preventive Measures 18 Destructive Cutting Methods 19 Grazing 19 Insects and Fungi 19 Forest Management 20 Forest Planting 23 Trees for Forest Planting 23 Black Locust "Wlhite Pine 24 Red Oak > : . . 24 Other iSpecies Basket Willow Culture 25 Summary 26 Forest Map 27 The Forests Of Baltimore County- INTRODUCTION. A forest survey of Baltimore Oounty, made by the State Board of Forestry a few years ago, resulted in detailed information concerning the character and composition of the forests, the stand of timber, the different wood uses, the amount of timber being- cut, and the damage by fire and other dtestructive agencies, and forms the basis for this report. The large forest map, found on the inside back cover of the report, greatly supplements the information herein contained. Baltimore County, the third largest ini the State, has important forest resources. It ranks third in the value of its forest products and ninth in total wooded area. It ranks second in area of improved farm land and has the largest assessed value of any county in the Sitate. Its proximity to Baltimore City, with its rapidly expanding industrial development®, gives it an excellent market for all classes of forest products. The County lies in two physiographic divisions, the Piedmx)nt and the Coastal Plain. Since only about one tenth of the land area em- bracing the southeastern section lies in the Coastal Plain, the surface is distinctly characteristic of the Piedmont with its rolling hills in- terspersed with a few valleys. The County is traversed by five lines of railroad, covering 120 miles, and by 900 miles of improved highway, rendering all parts accessible. LAND CLASSIFICATION. Improved Farmland 230,471 acres 58% Wooded Area 103,515 " 24% Waste Land 65,739 " . 17% Salt Marsh Land 3,456 " 1% 403,181 " 100% 8 The Forests of Baltimore County. DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORESTS. Outside of the suburban development in the vicinity of Baltimore, there is little clearing of land, and comiparatively little cleared land is reverting to fo^rest. It appears that one will about off-set the other, so that a "status quo" is maintained. It is not likely that there will be ^a^y decided change in forest distribution for many years to oome. Twenty-four per cent, of the land area of the County is in forests. This is distinctively an agricultural county and the forest areas are, generally, distributed in woodlots of varying sizes from ten to a hun- dred acres, interspersed with cleared lands, the exception being in the southheastem part in the Coastal Plain, where there arie a few large areas of continuous forests. This is true to a limited extent in the northern part of the County around Parkton, and also in the central part between. Cockeysville and O'wings Mills. The forest® are largely confined to rocky ridges, steep slopes, and flats along streams. It is a county of high agricultural develop- ment where arable land and forest land are sharply divided. The fifteenth district contains the largest acreage of woodland and also the highest percentage, sixty-nine, while the twelfth district contains the smallesit acreage of woodland, and 'also the smallest per- centage of wooded area, amounting to 11%. The eleventh district contains timber of the highest stumpage value. Only eight of the districts of the County contain any pine of merchantable size, and of this, seventy-five per cent, is in the fifteenth districts Table I shows the area, stand, and value of saw timber by election districts. Distribution and character of the forests are graphically shown on the maip at the end of the report. DESCRIPTION OF THE FORESTS. The forests of the County are almost entirely of the hardwood type. In the stand of timber, the hardwoods constitute ninety-six per cent., while the pine constitutes only four per cent. Twenty- four per cent, of the land area is in forest, which is about the right proportion for the best economical development. Rollinig hills with ridges, slopes, and valleys produce three forest types, — ^notaibly, the ridge type consisting of chestnut, chestnut oak, and scarfet oak, as the prevailing tree species ; the slope type in which The Forests of Baltimore County. STANDARD VALUE OF SAW TIMBER BY ELECTION DISTRICTS, TABLE I. Dist. No. 1 I I 2 i 3 I I M 5 I 6 I 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 I -2 c ® O aj H W-o Stand of Saw Timber in Board Feel ;Doyle Log Rule). All Trees More Than Nine Inches in Diameter. Acres. Acres. 17,460 28,750 20,820 37,580 28,290 22,870 52,670 41,273 23,370 30,980 42,930 8,180 9,178 14,180 23.650 I I 5,164 8,744 4,820 8,624 4,487 7,089 8,142 9,207 5,160 6,120 14,413 873 1,186 3,087 16,399 % 30 29 23 23 16 8,529 18,497 11,241 20,841 10,145 24 36 155 396 31 1 8,475 15 10,485 56 22 24,330 22 14,333 20 14,325 34 30,427 1,152 11 668 13 1,525 27 4,696 102 69 22,835 1 6,070 Co.l 403,181 I 103,515 | 24 | 201,352 | 7,991 -fe o "O EhCQ J- a 8,553 18,497 11,277 20,996 10,541 8,475 10,541 24,330 14,333 14,325 31,579 668 68,232 147,976 89,928 166,728 81,160 67,800 83,880 i I 194,640 114,664 114,600 243,416 5,344 i 1,525 I 12,200 I I I I I 4,798 I 28,905 I I 37,568 Stumpage Value. Pho $192 I 288 I 1,240 I 3,168 I 448 9,216 816 182,680 I 48,560 | I $68,424 147,976 90,216 167,968 84,328 67,800 84,328 194,640 114,664 114,600 252,632 5,344 12,200 38,384 231,240 209,343 I 1,610,816 I $63,928 | $1,674,744 10 The Forests of Baltimore County. the chesitnut, scarlet oak, black oak, and white oak of the upper slopes give way to Ted oak, tulip, and hickory on the lower slope ; and the bottom type found along streams or low" flat lands, consisting principally of red maple, ash, elm, birch, and sycamore. Ridge Type. — This type of forest, occupying as it does the rocky ridges with thin soil of poor quality, has the least valuable forest growth. On the other hand, this land is not suitable for any other purpose, and is better adapted to the growing of forests than for any other use. Slope Type. — The slope ty^Q contains deeper soils with a greater- amount of moisture, therefore, producing a correspondingly heavy stand of timber. It is also noted that the trees are taller and, better developed on this type than on the ridge type. Bottom Type. — The bottom type is found on the deeper, moister soils and where there is not excessive moisture, the sta-nds are heavy and well developed. Frequently, however, forests of this type are on wet, or poorly drained, soil, which retards growth and produces a poorer quality of timber. Practically all of the forests have been cut over one or more tinues. Since the more valuable species have beeni cut the heaviest, constant culling has changed the; relative proportion of the different species and caused considerable deterioration of the stand. The chest- nut has nearly all been killed by the chestnut blight and is now being replaced by a natural growth of oaks, poplar, and hickory. In the laean time, there has been a tremendous waste caused hj the failure to utilize the chestnut before it became worthless. The use of the forest and the intensity of cutting has varied inversely with the distance from the railroad, ot the difficulty of log- ging. Some of the best timber is now found \\\ inaccessible places, such as steep slopes or along ravines of difficult access. COMMERiCIAL TYPES. In the forest survey of the county, the forests were divided into three general classes, — hardwoods, pines, and mixed hardwood and pines. The hardwoods were divided into tAvo classes, — the merchant- able and the culled forests, the merchantable indicated on the map by the letter ''M" and divided into two sub-divisions, depending upon the stand of timber per acre, while the culled forests, indicated by PLATE I. PIG. 1 FIG. 1.— PORTABLE SAW-MTLL, NEAR ILCHESTFR There are about 49 operating in the County ^• PLATE I. An operation in a 30- Fia. 2.-THE PRODUCT OF A PORTABLE SAW-MILL The Forests of Baltimore County. 11 the symbol " C " are divided into three sub-divisions, according to the stand 'of timber per acre. The merchantable forests indicate stands in which there is a sufficient amount of timber to justify logging operations, while the culled forests are usually those of immature growth, where the stand of timber is not sufficient to warrant logging operations. The pine forests, which are founid sparingly, except in the southeastern section of the County, and practically all consisting of scrub pine, are indicated by the symbol "S," and are, likewise, sub-divided into three classes on a basis of stand of timber. The bulk of the pine, however, is found in miixed stands with hardwood, indi- cated by a combined symbol " C " and " S ", showing a culled hard- wood and pine class. Of this type, there are three classes, depending upon the proportion and size of the pine and of the hardwood in mixture. By referring to the map in the back of this report, the different tA^pes and their arranigement will be clearly demonstrated. Hardwood Type. — ^This is the prevailing type throughout the County and' comprises more than 95 per cent, of the total forested area., The three main sub-types under this are merchantable hiarcl- woods, culled hardwoods, and hardwood seedlings. The former repiresenits 'areas containing suffiicient trees of mature size to make logging operations profitable. This type is sub-divided into two class- es accordinig to the stand of tim;ber per acre. The culled hardwood class represents areas that have) been more or less out over, and where the stand of timber' is not considered heavy enough to make the lumber operationis entirely practicable. Many of these stands contain scattered trees of large size and con- siderable value, but in most cases, they represent young stands not >et mature. The culled hardwoods are further sub-divided into three classes, acoording to the relative stand of timber per acre. The third class of hardwoods, the hardAvood seedlings, represents young stands, usually under itAventy feet in height, that contain noth- ing of sufficient size to be of merchantable value. TJie Pine Type. — The pine type, the smallest of the three meni- tioned, occupies very limited areas in different parts of the County. The bulk of it is found in the Middle River section, in the southeast- ern part of the County, and consists of scrub pine. This type is sub-divided into three sub-classes, differing according to the stand of i imber. ]2 The Forests of Baltimore County. Mixed Type. — The third general type, consisting of a mixtnro of hardwood and pine, occupies limiited areas in the County, — ^the larger portion being in the southeastern seetioni. The total amount com- prises a very small percentage of the forested area. This type con- sists of stands of varyinig mixtures of hardwood and pine of varying sizes, as indicated 'by the letters and symbols on the map. NATIVE FOREST TREES. The native forest trees found in the County comprise an exten- sive list of 79 species. A large part of them are of commercial im- portance, while others are found only sparingly. The list below con- tains species native to the County which reach tree size. EVERGREEN OR NEEDLE-LEAIVED TREES. Common Name. Botanical Name. Scrub Pine Pinus virginiana Pitch Pine Pinus rigida White Pine Pinus strobus Short Leaf Pine Pinius echinarta Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Hemlock Tsuga canandensis DECIDUOUS OR BROAD-LEAVEVD TREEJS. Common Name. Botanical Name. White Oak Quercus alba Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus Post Oak Quercus minor Swamp White Oak Quercus platanoides Burr Oak Quercus miacrocarpa Red Oak Quercus rubra Black Oak Quercus velutina Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea Spanish Oak Quercus digitata Pan Oak Quercus palustris Willow Oak Quercus phellos Black Jack Oak Quercus marilandica Shinigle Oak Quercus imbricaria Scrub Oak Quercus ilicifolia Chestnut Castanea dentata The Forests of Baltimore County. . 13 Common Name. Botanical Name. Tulip Poplar Liriodendroiu tulipifera Mockernut Hickory .- . . Carya alba Pignut Hickory Carya glabra Shellbark Hickory Carya evata Small Pignut Carya microearpa Bitteraut Hickory Caiya minima Big Shellbark Hickory Carya laciniosa Black Walnut Juglans nigra Butternut Juglans cinerea Black Locust liobiniia pseudacacia Red Maple Acer rubrum Silver Maple Acer sacchadnum Sugar Maple Acer saccharum A,sh Leaved Maple Acer negundo Black Maple Acer nigrum I^eech Fagus americana Red G-um Liquidambar styraciflua Sour Gum Nyssa sylvatica Wild Black Cherry Prunus serotina Fire CheriT' Prunius pennsylvanica Bird Cherry Prunus avium White Elm Ulmus americana Slipipery Elm Ulmus pubescens Sycamore Platanus occidentalis Sassafras Sassafras sassafrais Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Basswood Tilia americana , Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Holly Ilex opaca White Willow SalLx allba Pussy Willow Salix discolour Black Willow Salix nigra Red Bud Cercis canadensis Dogwood Comus florida Blue Beech Carpinius ciaroliniana Shad Bush Amelanchier canadensis Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides Big Toothed Aspen Populus grandidentata 14 The Forests of Baltimore County. Common Name. Botanical Name. Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera Hop Hornbeam Ostrya virgiiiiian-a Red Mulberry Morus rubra Paw Paw Asimina triloba Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana Swamp Magnolia Magnolia glaiiea Umbrella Tree Magnolia tripetala Coeikspnr Thorn Crataegus crus-galli Red' Birch Betula nigra Black Biirch Betula lenta White Ash Fraxinius americana Black Ash Fraxinus nigra Red Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Fringe Tree Ghionanthus virginica Hercules Club Aralia spiniosa Staghom Sumach Rhus hirta INTRODUCED TREES THAT HAVE BECOME COMMON IN THE FOREST. Common Name. Botanical Name. Honey Locust Gleditsia tricanthos Catalpa • Catalpa speciosa Ailanthus Ailanthus glandulosa Empress Tree Paulownia imperialis Osage Orange Madura pomifera IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES AND THEIR CHIEF USES. Nearly aR of the tree species found in the County are used to some extent, but taking only those Avhich, by reason of their abundance and good qualities, have an extensive use, the list may be reduced to comparitively few well recognized species. Oaks. — At the head of the list naturally stand the oaks which furnish 60 per cent, of the timber cut of the County. There is no class of wood that possesses strength and durability to such a marked extent as oak. The oaks may be divided commercially into two group s-the white oaks and the red oaks. The Forests op Baltimore County. 15 Wlute Oaks. — This group includes a number of different species classed by timber opeirators under the general name of white oak. 'i'he wood of the differenit species is very similar and difficult >to recog- nize, except by experts. For all practical purposes, the wood of one species is as good as another. The principal species included in this group are the true white oak, chestnut oak, post oak, and swamp Vv'hite oak. The true white oak furnishes about 80 per cent, of what is cut and sold as white oak, the chestnut oak about 12 per cent., and post oak and swamp white oak, the remainder. The wood of the white oak is especially tough and strong, and since it is so widely distributed over the County and conistitutes so large a percentage of the merchantable timber, it is the most impor- tant of all of the tree species. It is used locally for genciral con- struction purposes, and is extensively exported from the County for ear construction!, framing, bridge plank, furniture wood, cooper- age stock, railroad ties, piling, and a variety of other uses requiring high grade wood. Bed Oaks. — A number of different species of oak are sold as red oak, including black oak, red oak, scarlet oak, Spanish oak, pin oak, and willow oak. Sometimes, the last two mentioned are classed as water oaks, and sold at a somewhat lower price. Red oak is less durable than white oak, and for most purposes does not command so high a price. Like white oak, it is heavy, hard, strong, tough, but not so durable on exposure. For interior uses, such as furniture, finish', etc., it is the equal cf white oak, and sells for about the same price. Its chief uses are for general construction, ear stock, railroad ties, planking, furniture, and interior finish. The greatesit inerease in use has been for rail- road ties which take a large percentage of the cut. The wood of the red oak possesses all the requisite qualities for first class railroad ties, except its durability in contact with the soil. By treating the wood with a preservative, such as is in practice by all railroad com- panies, this obstacle is overcome, consequently red oak ties are now universally used. Chestnut. — ^Chestnut was formerly the most abundant tree spec- ies in the County, but due to the ravages of the chestnut blight, — a fun- gus disease which has been destroying chestnut timber for more than ten years, its status as a commoredal species seems doomed. The cut 16 The Forests of Bai.timore County. at the present time, however, constitutes a very important item of tim'ber production, constituting about 20 per cent, of the total. It is more abundant in the northern half of the Counrty, and because of its durability in contact with soil, anid its excellent stem development, it is much in demand for telephone, telegraph, and electric light poles, railroad ties, and general construction purposes. TIhe wood is fairly light, soft, liable to warp and check in seasoning, easily split, coarse and brittle, but durable under exposure. There has been a great increase in the cutting of chestnut in the last few years, in the nature of salvage of timber affected by the blight. The cut, however, in the next few years, will rapidly fall off, due to exhaus- tion of supplies. Tulip Poplar. — This species, commonly known as yellow poplar, is a tree found scattered singly or in small groups in the forest, and is rarely found in aniything like pure stands. The wood is of fine texture, light, soft, easily worked, itakes paint readily, and holds its shape well, making it a favorite among wood users. It attains a larger size thani any other tree in the County, and is found in the deep, nuoist soils of ravines and lower slopes. It is used locally for weather boarding, sheathing, and general construction. The better grades are exported for furniture stock and initerior finish, cigar boxes, wagon bodiies, etc. The smaller and medium sized trees are eut extensively for pulpwood. Hickory. — Several species of hickory occur in the County anid are used indiscriminately. The principal species are mockernut and pignut hickorJ^ The wood has a highly specialized use for spoke timber and tool handles, for which it is fitted by its distinctive qualities of hardwood, strength, toughness, and flexibility. It is a tree found sparingly in the forest and associated with the oaks, tulip, poplar and chestnut. While the wood is very valuable, usually only a small percentage of the tree is sufficiently clear straight! grained to be acceptable for its special uses, hence it is not considered as a desir- able tree to encourage in the forest. As a fuel wood, it ranks very high. Locust. — This tree is abundant throughout the County, found on a variety of soils, and is the chief dependence for fence posts. It is a rapid growing' tree of quick maturity, furnishing a valuable product, and is highly desirable for forest planting. In addition The Forests op Baltimore County. 17 to its local use for fence posts, the wood is specially used for insu- lator pine, and was used extensively during the War for tree nails in the construction of wooden ships. Ash. — Although five species of ash are recognized in the County, it is probably that white ash constitutes more than 90 per cent, of the cut. It is a tree growing in mixture with other species im the forest, and is found on the moister soils along water courses. The wood is very heavy, strong, straight^ grained, tough and elastic, and is used for car construction, furniture, vehicle manufacture, agricultural implements, tool handles, sporting goods, etc. Tlie amjount cut in the County is, relatively, small, and it is usually thrown in with other species, being cut for lumber and rairoad ties, although occasionally selected logs are shipped for use in special wood using industries. Black Walnut. — Walnut brings a higher price per thousand feet than any other wood, and during the War, immense quantities were cut and shipped out of the County for the manufacturei of gun stocks and aeroplane propellers. It is a tree fo'und along the edges of fields and ravines on the farm, ra)ther than in the forest. Where it grows, it is a short stemmed, wide branching tree having a low! percentage of merchantable content, so that .the values received are not high as compared with the length of time required to grow the tree to com- mercial size, and the amount of space that it occupies. The wood is fine grained, hard, strong, durable, and easily worked. It is highly prized as a cabinet and furniture wood. THE LUMBER AND TIMBER CUT. There were forty-nine saw-mills operating in Baltimore County in 1920, which produced 7,585,000 feet board measure of lumber, together with 101,150 sawed railroad ties and other timber and wood products. In addition to the saw-mill operatoa^s, miany of whom, got out other timber products than lumber and railroad ties, there were at least ten others not operating saw-mills who produced poles, piling, veneer logs, or cordwood exclusively. The lumber and timber cut of the County has fallen off con- siderably in the last six years, the lumber production for 1920, being below that of 1914 by nearly two and a half million feet, or a falling off of more than 28 per cent. In the same time, tie production has 18 The Forests of Bai^timore County. fallen off 28 per cent., piling 40 per cent., and cordwood 60 per cent. The reduced ontput of lumber and timber products is due mainly to the depleted timber supplies. In the same time, however, timlber values have greatly increased so that the value ait the shipping points for lumber and timber production! in 1920 was 88 per cent, greater than in 1914. SUMMARY OF LUMBER AND TIMBER CUT, 1920 TABLE IL Value At Product Amount Shipping Point LumJber 6,235,000 Bd. Ft. $249,400 Veneer Logs 2,600,000 " " 130,000 R. R. Ties 101,150 " " 96,000 Poles 7,175 '' " 64,575 Copper Poles 4,770 tons 19,000 Piling 2,700 pieces ' 19,000 Cordwood 1,800 cords 14,400 Total ..$592,375 Lumber. — The lumber cut of the County consisted almost entire- ly of hardwoods, the amount of pine being negligible. Of the 6,235, 000 feet board measure, produced, 70 per cent, was oak ; 15 per cent., tuMp poplar; 10 rper cent., chestnut; and, 5 per cent, miscellaneous species. Five years ago, chestnut formed nearly, 50 per cent, of the lumber cut. The sudden dropping off is due to the destruction of the species by the chestnut blight. A great bulk of the lumber is cut by portable mills which usually operate but a few months in the year, generally during the fall and winter', although a few operate the year round. There are several operated by water power, doing a small custom sawing business. The value of the lumber output, delivered at shipping points, is estimated at $249,400. Veneer Logs. — For many years, the cutting and shipping of high grade logs from selected trees, particularly for the export trade, has been followed. In recent years, however, since the beginning of the War, there has been little or no demand for such export woods. In its place, however, has come a demand for large, high grade logs for the veneer plants located at Baltimore, and in adjoining states. The Forests of Baltimore County. 19 This is particularly true of tulip poplar used largely for veneer, basket making, and for cigar boxes. The cut of such material amount- ed to 2,600,000 board feet, the value f. o. b. cars at $50 per thousand, making a total of $130,000. Railroad Ties. — The production of railroad ties has always been an important industry in the County. Some years ago, when labor costs were not so high, a considerable proportion of ties were hewn. Now, however, practically all are sawed. About 70 per cent, are oak, 20 per cent, chestnut, and 10 per cent, miscellaneous species. The total number cut in 1920 was 101,150 of the different grades, the average price at the railroad being 95 cents, making a total value of $96,092. Poles. — Poles used by the telephone, telegraph, electric light, and trolley companies around Baltimore and vicinity drew heavily upon the rapidly diminishing chestnut pole supply of the County. Pole compandes are finding it increasingly idifficult to secure the supply of poles from local sources. During 1920, 7,175 poles varying in lengths from 20 to 50 feet, averaging about 35 feet, were sold from the forests of the County. The average price f . o.' b. cars was $9.00, making a total value of $64,575. This did not include a large num- ber of poles furnished by woodland owners in the construction of local lines, or for replacement, in such lines. Copper Poles. — Copper poles, so called, are used at the copper smelters in Baltimore in the process of reducing ore to the pure metal. They consist of poles of varying length, although usually 30 feet long, and 3 inches, or over, at the small end, any kind of hardwood being taken. 4,770 tons of such poles were cut in 1920, which, at the value of $4.00 per ton f.' o. b. cars, give a total value of $19,080 for this product. Piling. — The demand for piling has fallen off very sharply since the War, but still constitutes an important product of Baltimore County's forests. This special use requires a strong wood in reason- ably straight sticks, dak, including both white and red, were the only kinds cut for this purpose. The production for the year amount- ed to 2,700 pieces, ranging from 30 to 60 feet, averaging about 35 feet in length, and worth $7.00 each f. o. b. cars, making a total value of $18,900, 20 The Forests of Baltimore County. Cordwood. — The iiicreasing cost of coal and the difficulty of ob- taining it has increased the market for cordwood. The high cost of cutting it, however, has been a seriousi drawback, so that the amount cut and sold was not large,— about 1,800 cords, which, at a value of $8.00 per cord at the shipping point, yielded $14,400. This does not include the fuel wood used on farms, which would probably increase this figure by 20,000 cords. miscellaneous Proddicts. — It is known that small quantities of other products are produced and sold from the forests of the County, but as it was not possible to get reliable figures, they have been omitted from the estimates. They include small quantities of shingles cut by local mills, and used locally ; a large quantity of posts cut from the woodland and usually sold in the neighboirhood', also small quanti- ties of pulpwo'od, tanbark, and walnut logs gathered up by buyers who scout around the country for such material. THE WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES. An intensive study of the wood-usinig industries of Maryland was made in 1916, just prior to the disturbance of normal conditions, occasioned by the War.* The information obtained showed the amount of wood of the various kinds that went through many processes of manufacture after coming from the sawmills or the forests, and being converted into finished products. These industries are of the greatest importance to Baltimore County, since they furnish an ex- cellent market for home products. The industries of Baltimore City and' Baltimore County were not separated in this report, and while Baltimore City contains, probably, 95 per cent, of the industriies, their proximity to Baltimore County makes them almost a part of it. Baltimore City and County naturally lead the State in forest industries, as in all other kinds. Twenty-four per cent, of the County is wooded, and this and neiighboring counties produce' more than 7,000,000 feet of the timber which it manufactures. It is, of course, -the heaviest importer in the State of high-priced foreign woods. All together, there are 38 varieties of wood' used by this trade in Baltimore. Manufactories of wood employ nearly 8,000 people in 164 plants. These plants are of prime importance to the industrial activity of the City and the State. With unparalleled shipping facilities by rail and *Wood-Using Industries of Maryland by F. W. Besley and J. G. Dorrance. The Forests of Baltimore County. 21 men employed in maryland, by industries — table iii. Industry. 1. Ship and boat building 2. Boxes and crates, liaciing 3. Planing mill ptoduets. 4. Furniture 5. Instruments, musical.. 6. Vehicles and vehicle l)arts 7. Brushes 8. Car construction y. Baskets 10 Fixtures 11 Tanks and silos, cooperage 12 W o o d e n w a r e and novelties 13 Toys 14 Boxes,, cigar 15 Caskets and coffins 16 Picture frames and mouldings 17 Portable houses 18. Trunks, valises, lug- gage 1£). Molds and patterns... The State Average men per plant 'Total firifis listed Baltimore. No. Men. 1,901 1,188 942 716 628 509 20O 260 25 306 175 175 165 115 7,621 44 No. Plants. Balance of State. No. Men. 173 164 646 415 575 275 75 350 200 356 66 102 19 3,252 21 No. Plants. 157 118 Total for State. No. Men. 2,074 1,834 1,357 1,291 903 584 550 460 381 372' 237 194 175 165 115 10,873 33 No. Plants. 330 282 . * 282 represents total wood-using industries in Maryland. 330 also represents the 282 firms, some of which, however, manufacture more than one wood product, and are therefore divided accordingly and indicated more than once. O-) The Forests of Baltimore County. BALTIMORE CITY (AND COUNTY) AMOUNT OF WOOD USED, SOURCE, AND COST— TABLE TV. Kind of Wood. Mary- land Grown United States. Foreign. Total Bd. Ft. Per Cent. of Whole. At. Cost PerM at Fac- tory. Total Cost F. O. B. Factory. 1. S. yellow pines. 2. Oak species 3. Cypress 4. Black gum 5. Basswood 6. Tulip poplar .. 7. E.' white pine. 8. Chestnut 9. Red maple 10. Red gum 1,804,000 4,633,000 95.000 300.000 639,000 11. Hard maple ... 12. Beech ... 13. Yellow buckeye. 14. Mahogany 15. Douglas fir 16. W. white pine... 17. Hickory species. 18. Ash species 19. Birch species ... SO. Eastern spruce.. 104,000 11,000 21. Spanish cedar 22. Hemlock 23. Black walnut . 24. Cotton gum.. 25. American elm 26. Circassian walnut, 27. Western spruce ... 28. Cherry 29. Cedar species — 30. Lignum-vitae 31. Rosewood 32. Cucumber 33. Teak 34. Tamarack 35. Redwood 36. Holly 37. Sycamore 38. Boxwood Totals 35,000 35,000 156,281.000 10,759,000 7,962,000 6,940,000 6,183,000 5,834,000 4,114,000 2,627,000 2,140,000 2.137,000 1,282,000 1,230,000 1,000,000 860,000 820,000 582,000 648,000 609,000 485,000 200,000 152,000 175.000 163,000 100,000 61,000 52,000 15,000 5,000 1,000 ;,ooo 1,000 937,000 332,000 115,000 30,000 26,000 9,0(X) 1,000 158,085.000 15,391,000 7,962,000 7,035,000 6,183,000 6,134,000 4,114,000 3,166,000 2,140,000 2,137,000 1,283,000 1,230,000 1,000,000 937,000 860,000 820,000 686,000 659,000 609,000 485,000 332,000 200,000 187,000 175,000 163,000 115,000 100,000 96,000 62,000 30,000 26,000 15,000 9,000 5,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 i.ooo 70 7 4 S 3 3 2 1.5 1 1 $17.85 40.99 35.82 19.12 29.88 47.39 49.16 29.46 21.88 22.62 35.19 20.33 50.00 138.26 34.97 34.48 39.61 47.02 24.48 229.52 26.00 103.37 29.86 1 34.66 228.26 35.00 71.15 56.83 162.50 348.07 39.00 350.00 50.00 55.00 126.00 120.00 120.00 ,821,126 630,806 285,182 134,510 184,774 290,679 202,229 93,264 46,825 48,345 45,119 25,000 50,000 129,547 30,075 28,275 41,240 26,095 28,636 11,875 76,200 5,200 19,330 5,2^5 5,650 26,250 3,500 6,830 2,955 •4,875 9,050 585 3,150 250 55 126 120 120 7,555,000 213,419,000 1,450,000 222,424,000 100 $23.72 $5,323,073 The Forests of Baltimore County. 23 water, there is no reason why Baltinioa^e should mot continue a leader in the manufacture of forest products along the Atlantic Coast. PROTECTING THE FORESTS. The chief causes ■responsible for the poor condition of the forests of the County are forest fires, destructive methods of cutting, pastur- ing the woodland, insects and tree diseases. Forest Fires. — The chief causes of forest fires are hunters and campers, brush burning, railroads, and incendiarism. Nearly all fires could be prevented with reasonable care. The Maryland Foirest Laws impose heavy penalties upon any- one who sets fire to woodlands, not his own. Anj owner who' sets fire on his own land and allows it to escape to the injury of other lands is liable tor the cost of extinguishing the fire, and for the damage that is done to adjacent property. Fire damage in Baltimore County has not been excessive, due to the isolated character of many of the woodlands, and also that most of the woodlands are on farms where a closer watch for fires is possible. Nevertheless, the annual loss from forest fires is consideraible, and a fire that burns over any wooidland does serious damage in reducing the productive capacity of the forests. The effects of fire are: (a) the Iburning of the leaves and litter on the ground which are needed to conserve the moisture, to protect the seed and to fertilize the soil: (b) the destruction of the seed, and young seedlings that have already started, and which are so essential for the renewal of the forests : (c) the burning of t(he cambium, or , living wood, of young trees, on the side most exposed to fire, causing the bark to peel off, thus exposing the wood to decay. The tree be- comes stunted, decay enters the wood and gradually works its way up into the trunk, rendering the tree practically worthless: (d) a severe fire in the brush, left by logging operations, often kills all the trees that lemain, entailing a total loss of growing stock. Preventive Measures. — In the case of small woodlands, surround- ed by cultivated land, the danger from forest fires is very much! re- duced. But where the woodlands are in large tracts, particularly where they border public highways or railroads, the danger is great- ly increased. The most effective preventive measures are extreme care on the part of the owner and his employees engaged in work in the woods, 24 The Forests of Baltimore County. and the elimination, sO' far as possible of dead and down timber* and dry tops. Where there is a particular fire hazard, such as aliong the borders of the roadways and railways, all inf lammaible ma.terlial should be removed for some distanioe from the edges of ithe roadways, and along the rights-of-way of the railroads.*' Woods roads through the property should be kept clear of inflammable material to serve as fire lines, from which fires that occur may be more easily and more effectively combated. Destructive Cutting Metliods. — In past years when timber was cheap, usually only the best was taken from the woodland, and that of the poorer species and poorer quality was left. This praiCtice has continued for many years, niearly all of the forests having been cut over in this way, with the result that culled foirests are the pre- \ailing type. Most of the forests have been cut over two or three times, and under this system of always removing the best, rapid de- terioration has followed. Not only that, but the remaining small trees of no merchantable value have been recklessly destroyed in tak^ ing out the larger timber, and there has been an excessive amount of waste in logging methods. The woods have been strewn with dead tops and brush, covering or weighing down the younig trees, and at the same time greatly increasing the fire hazard. To correct such abuses and to restore forest productivity, the cutting should be made in such a way as to favoil the most valuable species, and to eliminate, so far as practicable, the undesirable species .and the crooked and defective trees, even of the valuable species. This necessitates the careful selection of trees by the owner in any cutting that may be done. Especially in taking out trees for fire- wood, the pooirer kind should be taken, thereby improving the char- acter and oomposition and leaving the more desirable trees for re- producinig the forest. Grazing. — It is a common practice, throughout the County, to include the woodland in the permanent pasture. This has resulted in serious damage by creating conditions unfavorable to tree growth. The soil becomes hard and dry from the constant tramping of the cattle, the seed bed is destroyed, and the growth of the trees seriously checked, if not altogether stopped. The woodland becomes open and very much understocked, due to the destruction of the young growth, ♦Railroad companies will, usually burn such strips at their expense, when requested to do so by the owner. PLATE II. PIG. 1. — DEVASTATION. Caused by unrestricted timber operation. PLATE II. FIG. 2. — PROTECTION. The result of a tiraber operation where the trees for cutting- were marked by the State i^oard o± Forestry, the small trees and young- growth being- fully protected for a second crop. The Forests of Baltimore County. 25 anid it ceases to be of value for timber production. The small amiouiit of pasturage is poor pay for the loss in the production of timber, and the result is that there is neither good pasture nor good woodland. Insects And Fungi. — 'No serious insect attacks have been report- ed from Baltimore County. While immense damage is done each year to shade trees, comparatively little damage is done to the trees in the forest. Here the insects seem to be held in check by their natural enemies. The one fungus disease that has been particularly destructive is the chestnut blight which has badly affected, practically, all the chestnut. This disease attacks only the chestnut, and' there appears no danger of its spread to other kinds of trees. There is no practical method of control, and the chestnut, as a commercial tree species, appears to be doomed. This is the more unfortunate, because it is one of the most valua!ble trees in the woodland. It m by far the best pole timber available, and one for which there is no suitable substitute. FOREST MANAGEMENT. No County is more favorably located for the practice of forestry than is Baltimore, and few counties have suffered more from the lack of good forestry practice. The growing of timber is just as certainly crop production as is the growing of corn or wheat, and like any other crop from the soil, certain cultural operations can be conduct- ed with much profit in icreasing the final yield. These operations can often be so conducted as to bring in an immediate revenue, and at the same time improve growth conditions. The farmer in handling his woodlands is in the very best position to give them the careful management that is required to get the maximum results. The work in the woods should be as carefully plan- ned as that in the fields, and with the same purpose in view — to get the maximum yield. The selection of the trees for cutting should not be left to inexperienced farm hands,with no thought other than getting wood in the easiest way, and having no permanent interest in the land. "Work in the woods can be done in the winter-time, when other work on the farm is not pressing. Frequently, woods^work provides employment for farm hands during the winter months, when they could not otherwise be profitably employed. A woodland is fully productive when the ground is occupied en- 26 The Forests of Baltimore County. tirely, that is, to the exclusion of any open places, by the best trees of the best sp-ecies for which the soil is adapted. The proper density of the forest is, therefore, of pirime importance, for not only will the greater volume of wood be produced when the crowns of the trees are close enough together? to touch each other on all sides, but this crowding will produce tall straight trees with lonig clear stems that make the m'ost valuable timbers. After trees attain their principal height growth, they will require a little free space around their crown to promotie the greatest diameter growth. Starting then with a young thicket stand of any species, or with mixed species of trees, crowding is beneficial in that it forces the most likely ones into rapid height growth to keep them above their competitors, and the dense shade kills off the small lower branches that would otherwise make knotty timber. During the small pole stage (under 5 inches in diameter) the stand may be greatly improved by cutting out undesirable trees, such as black gum, ired maple, beech, etc., when they are overtopping or crowding the more valuable species, such .as the oaks, hickories, tulip poplar, etc. This is termed a "weeding" ^in a young stand, and is similar to the same operationi in the garden or cornfield, and for the same purpose. By working over the forest at frequent intervals, with the idea of always favoring the more promising trees, and remov- ing the undesirable ones as soon as they begin to interfere with the trees selected for the permanent stand, it is possible to mould the forest into the foirm desired. Instead of a fully stocked young forest, the problem may bel one of restocking and regenerating a badly burned and culled forest. In this case the important thing is to encourage a reproduction of the species best suited to the locality. Seed trees are generally present tO' begin with, and by keeping out fires a young growth' will, in most cases, spring up rapidly. As the young growth develops such of the inferior trees as were left in the former cutting operations should be cut and utilized, so that they will cease to overtop and check the growth of the young saplings. By a gradual process of thinnings and! improvement cuttings, the undesirable trees may be eliminated from the forest and a full stand of desirable trees secured for the final crop. Another common problem of forest management is that of a fo^r- est in which there is a considerable amount of merchantable material that the owner desires to cut and turn into money, but, at the same The Forests of Baltimore County. 27 time, he wants to get it out in such a way that the producing power of the forest shall not be destroyed, since he intends to hold the wood- land for future timber crops. In most oases of this kind, there is al- ready on the ground a good younig'; growth, which, if properly pro- tected, will insure a satisfactory second crop. The main consideration should be to frame the cutting contract (if the timlber is not to be cut by the landowner) in such a way that the young growth will be saved. The usual practice is to specify a minimumi diameter limit, to be measured at a certain height from the ground. In cutting to a diameter limit the inferior species, such as gums, red maple and beech should be taken, as well as the more valuable species, since it is very desirable to prevent these inferior trees from gaining any advantage in the stand which is to succeed the one that is being cut. Unless special oare is taken in felling the trees, cutting roads, and getting out saw logs, a great deal of this young growth will be destroyed. Some damage is unavoidable, but unreasonable damage should be guarded against in framing the contract, even if the price secured for the timber is a little less in consequence. These are precautions such as any careful business man would take, and they will pay well in the end. The destruction of the chestnut, caused by thq chestnut blight, has introduced a new problem in forest mianagement. Where the chestnut represented only a small percentage of the mixture, natural seeding from the other species has generally taken the place of the trees killed by the blight. In place, however, where the chestnut forms 'a large percentage of the trees in the forest, the killing of this species has created gaps that will take many years to fill up satis- factorily, through natural means, ,and the importance of lartificial seeding, or planting, to fill up these open places is apparent. For this purpose, it will, ordinarily, be necessary to use trees that will stand a considerable amount of shade. For the high dry ridges, the planting of chestnut oak acorns will, probably, be most satisfactory, while on the slopes the planting -of white pinej seedlings is recommended. On the lower slopes and better soils, the planting of red oak lacorns, or of white pine seedlings, is to be reeomm^ended. The extent to which conservative forest management may be ap- plied in any case will depend upon a number of factors, chief of which are the danger of fire risk, and the market for the different kinds of forest products. If these conditions are favorable, there is the oppor- tunity to practice forestry very profita;bly. Even if there is a serious 28 The Forests of Baltimore County. fire risk, and the present market conditions are not favorable, the fact remains that nearly all of this land will be held for timber pro- duction, and since that is the case, why not make the lands as pro- ductive as possible, especially as so much can be done by way of im- provement at little expense? The danger from fires will rapidly de- crease, as people generally come to appreciate the damiage they do, and as the State makes more liberal provisions for forest protection. The market for timber products is sure to improve, so that timber growing isi certain to become more remunerative. The landowners, who are taking eare of their forests now, will be the ones who will have the timber to sell a few years later, when so much better prices will, undoubtedly, be secured. FOREST PLANTING. The forest survey made in 1910-1911 showed 65,739 acres, orl7%, of the total land area of the County as waste land, exclusive of salt marshes. This represents land upon which there is growing no crop of value, and includes swamps, gullied hill sides, and other unpro- ductive areas. Practically, this entire area will grow timber, if plant- ed or seeded with suitable species of trees. There is such a wide range of valuaible native species in the County, that it is possible to find kinds suitable for any conditions that exist, and for most of the waste land, there is no more profitable crop that can be grown upon, it than timber. Some of this land is S'uitable for permanent pasture, and will, eventually, b^; so used, but for a large part of it, forest planting is the only solution of the problem. It is not alone on the waste lands of the County that planting is practicable, but there is need for much forest planting on other lands, such as the reinforcing of depleted woodlands, the providing for fenice posts and other timlbers on farms, where the supply of these materials is lacking; the planting of strips for wind-breaks; the planting of lands mow used for other purposes, that would bring better returns in a timber crop. Before planting is undertaken, the area that it is proposed to plant should be carefully examined, with a view to selecting the best PLATE III. FIG. 1.— AN ORIGINAL, FOREST. Consisting of mixed oak, hickory, tulip poplar, and so forth, of which little is left, but shows what can be grown again if properly protected and managed. PLATE III. FIG. 2 — A PLANTED FOREST. A plantation of white pine to take the place of chestnut, which is rapidly dying out- Mt. Wilson. The Forests of Baltimore County 29 species, with reference to the soil, moisture conditions, and the pur- poses for which the timber is to be grown.* Trees For Forest Planting. — Black locust (Robinia pseudacacia) , also called yellow locust, or simply locust, is a native tree ofl rapid growth, producing a heavy, hard, durable wood, highly prized for fence posts, and for this purpose exceeds in value any other species. It casts so little shade that grass and weeds will grow under the trees and compete for moisture and soil fertility. For this reason and also because of possible attack from the locust borer, it is advised to plant it in mixture with other species, of somewhat slower growth, that will endure shade, and at the same time more completely shade the ground, such as white pine, or red oak. The trees should be spaced 6x6 feet, in alternate rows, with a row of white pine, or red oak, whichever is used in the mixture on the outside of the plantation. On good soils, the locust will grow 2 — 4 feet in height in a year. Fence posts will be produced in about 15 — 20 years, leaving the other species to produce a timber crop some years later. One-year- old locust seedlings should, generally, be used for establishing the plantation. White pine (Pinus strobus) is found growing naturally along the Gunpowder River, and in the northern half of the County, and is suitable for planting in all sections, except the southeastern on the Coastal Plain. It is a rapid growing tree, averaging from one to two feet in height, each year, and produces a soft, even-grained wood, useful for many purposes. It will produce saw timber in 30 to 40 years on good soil. White pine is subject to attack by the white pine weevil, — an insect that bores into the leader and kills it, often causing a forked stem. This species has been extensively planted in the County, in the Gunpowder watershed lands owned by Baltimore City, and ap- pears to be making a most satisfactory growth. A, spacing of 6x6 feet, using two year old seedlings, will, generally, give the best re- sults on land that is free from undergrowth. A mixture of locust with white pine is recommended as most practical for fully utilizing the ground, using the same spacing, 6x6 feet, but with alternate rows *Tha State Forester, Baltimore, Maryland, will upon request examine lands and prepare planting plans. Planting stock may be obtained from the State Nursery at small cost. 30 The Forests op Baltimore County of locust, which will come out for fence posts and stakes, when the pine needs more room. Ked oak, (Quercus rubra) is one of the common native trees, suitable for forest planting on medium to good soil. It is the most rapid growing of the oaks, producing a heavy, hard strong wood, very useful on the farm for general construction purposes and for fuel wood. Red oak is fairly tolerant of shade, and therefore, useful for underplantinig in woodlands, in need of reinforcing. The best method of propagation is by planting the seeds, two or three in each hole, where the trees are needed. In establishing a plantation, a spacing of 5x5 feet is recommended when seed is used, and 6x6 when seedlings are planted. Other species that can be recommended under specific conditions : "White ash, bottom lands or lower slopes. Tulip poplar, bottom lands or lower slopes. Black walnut, deep well-drained fertile soil. Shortleaf pine, dry upland soil. Loblolly pine, wet sandy soil of Coastal Plain, BASKET WILLOW CULTURE. The growing of basket willows is an important industry centered around Baltimore, particularly in the vicinity of Lansdowne, Patap- sco, Rosedale, and Catonsville. There are 13; willow gardens in Bal- timore County, comprising a little over 46 acres. This acreage could be greatly increased with profit, as there are extensive areas in the County suitable for the purpose. The best gardens are on flat land which, however, is not water soaked during the growing season. Wil- lows will grow on land that is wet during winter and spring, but they muiSit have reasonably dry surface conditions during the summer growing season. On the other hand, willows will not thrive on lands, where the permanent water table is more than 6 feet below the surface. There are three standard varieties that are principally used, the Lemley, the American Green, and the Welsh. In Baltimore County, there are 20.25 acres in Lemley, 21.50 in American Green, and 4.50 in Welsh. The net annual returns from willow gardens when established, range from $75 to $200 per acre. Further information about willow culture is contained in a report of the State Board of Forestry en- titled ''Basket Willow Culture in Maryland," by Karl E. Pfeiffer, Assistant Forester. The Forests of Baltimore County 31 BALTIMORE COUNTY REPORT. SUMMARY. 103,515 acres, 24% of the land area of Baltimore County, is in woodland. This area is sufficient to supply the timber requirements, if maximum production is secured. The woodlands are confined, generally, to the rocky ridges, steep slopes, otr wet bottom lands — soils not suited for field crops. The forest lands are not producing more than one-half of their maximum yield, due to forest fires, destructive cutting methods, graz- ing, and tree diseases, causing depleted woodlands. Adequate forest fire protection and good forest management would in a few years increaise timber production and forest revenues 50%. The demand for forest products is exceptionally good, transpor- tation for such products to nearby markets especially favorable, re- sulting in good prices. The timber cut of the County amounts to more than 14,000,000 ft. board measure, annually, with a value of nearly $600,000 at the shipping points. The wood-using industries of Baltimore City and Baltimore County include 164 plants, employing nearly 8,000 people, using 222,424,000 ft. iboard measure of lumber for which they pay $5,323,000. There are 65,739 acres of waste land in the County upon which nothing of value is being produced. Most of this area is suitable for forests which, if planted to trees, will produce >a good paying crop. TJhe growing of basket willows is, probably, the most profi-table use of many small areas of low ground lalong streams subject to over- flow and too wet for other cultivated crops. ■ MAP BALTIMORE COUNTY AND BALTIMORE aiT SH(nvi\(, riiK FOREST AREAS COMMERCIAL TYPES MARYLAND BOARD OF FORESTRY 1914 -ifJt; ■■ H ^-r -> J, \ ^"TT ■^