The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-11-12
VANDERBILT'S WOODLANDS

der the SAM mlnayem,at, Oaa. the
6lltmore forest, lying few miles to
the southeast Of Asheville and en-
bracing about 5000 acres; the other
the Pi'gah forest of 95 900 acres. cov-
ering the eastern and southern slopes
OF the Pisgah ridge, with it's spurs.
and the valleys of some of the western
tributaries of the French Broad river.
The Biltmore forest is on the sou nd
ed river hills Of the Asheville basin,
the river dividing it. Its most distant
portion is about ten miles from Ash
vile. Although it has been under
forest management only about seven
years the woodland shows great i'm
provement over the surrounding forest
which has nona of the protection.
The timber on the river hills of the
French Brood was never of the best
quality; but at the time of it's acquisi-
ton several decades of cutting for lum
Der snd fuel, with constant pasturage
and frequent fires, had in many instan-
ces reduced the number of growing
trees to only small proportion of
what the soil was able to produce,
Young trees had no opportunity to
develop, which meant that portion
of the farmers capital, to soil, was
being utilized, but lying idle.
The first stew after the adoption ofa
forest policy was to secure immunity
from fires and the eclusion of cattle.
The presence of cattle under certain
conditions may be permissible, but
every practical precaution is taken to
guard against fires. Although there
are only three men, who among other
duties have to act as fire guards for the
5000 acres: few fires of any extent
have occurred.
The trees which were standing seven
years ago were considered as worthless
except for fuel. and much of the best
fuel timber, the hickory and white oak
had been cut. The object of the pres
ent mana cement has been to continue
the removal of the old trees, where it
could be done without loss, and at the
same time to reproduce crop of young
trees in their place. In this new crop
which is being started preference is
given to the valuable trees: White
oak, post oak, hickory and pine, trees
which will eventually make build
ing materials or railway ties. In
many places q thick young growth
has appeared beneath the few old trees
remaining, which is regarded as a most
promising sign.
Throughout this forest the landscape
effect is paramount, as through it
wind many miles of pleasure drives,
and no cutting must be done which
will in any way tend to mar the beau
ty of the scene. In fact, entire hill |
sides which were formerly under cul-
tivation are being, or have been, plant |
ed in young trees. This is not done
as an advisory forest measure, since |
the cost of planting is entirely too
large in proportion. to any hoped for
returns, but merely as soil covering,
a garnis.l Ior barran hills, a veil to OBJ
scure ever deepening gullies, to cover
what are now blots on the landscape.
Many Of these pleasure drives are ex-
pected some day to form part of an
arboretum, or rather an arboretum is
to be planted Oh either side of the
drives. That is, all the trees which
can be 9 'tten to grow in the climate
of Biltmort are to be planted along
these roads.
Trees from every where are to be
tried, both native and foreign, from
the southern hemisphere as we'll as the
northern. The nursery is already
stocked with thousands of specimens
ready to be placed along the arboret-
um roads. 1t will afford the botanist |
an excellent opportunity of study; the
lover of trees can here compare the |
beauty of rival species, and their adap-
liability to these soils and conditions;
and even the foresters may be benefit
ed, may se.are son. species suitable
for introduction into the mountain for
est which will be a valuable addition
to the timber trees of the state. The
arboretum, how ever has nothing to do
with the forest, as it is tor beauty, or
study, ora matter of experiment in the
department of the various trees at Bilt
more; while the forest and it's entire
management, SO far as is compatible
with its utilization rs a portion of the
landscape gardening, it to secure an
income, a continuous income, from
woodland.
For great many years the pro-
duets of the Biltmore forest must be
of a low grade-fuel, and often fuel Of
a poor quality-the chiefetforts Of the
management being directed toward
starting young wood of desirable
kinds of trees, cord wood At present
the cutting only amounts to few
thousand a year. This is hauled to
the river from the hills on either side