The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-12-03
THE FORESTS OF GARRETT COUNTY
Garrett County as Seen In the Report
of the narvland State Board of
Forestry

is largely an economic problem. Where
timber is cheap and transportation
charges high, as is generally the case, it
does not pay to cut down to such small
diameters in the top of the trees or to
utilize them as closely as where
timber is worth more and the log
ging costs are less. But the present
waste and the destructive methods of
cutting cannot BE- fully justified by
this measure of value. Not only is
much of the timber left in the tops of
the trees disable. but the large amount
of derbis left on the ground under these
wasteful methods greatly increases the
fire risk and the damage to the remain
ing young growth when fires do occur
In cutting the large trees there is
generally very little care exercised on
the part of the choppers to tell the
trees where they will do the least dam
age to young growth, and to use proper
precaution in logging to avoid damage
to the young timber. Tn ere is, how
ever, at present time quite change in
methods from those that were used
years ago, and growing tendency for
closer utilization of the trees. THIS has
been brought about to a great extent
by the demand for mine props, pit ties.
and other small material. UnfOrtu-
nately, however, in most cases instead
of using the tops and laps of trees
more closely for this purpose, the small
trees, which in a few years would
make valuable timber, are cut into
mine props often when they will bring
scarcely more than it costs to cut them.
This appears to be short sighted policy,
except where the fire risk Is so great as
to mean almost certain destruction of
the young after the large timber is cut
Garrett is the only county in the
State which permits stock to run at
large. Therefore, all unfenced land Is
open range that can be used by any
body without restriction. Consequently,
every summer there are thousands of
cattle, sheep and hogs running at large
through the glades and forests, and no
farmers crop is secure unless he has a
very strong fence, that is often difficult
to maintain. While cattle and sheep
travel through the forest continuously.
they graz principally IN the glades and
do very little injury to the forest
growth. The damage from grazing
cannot, therefore, be charged directly
to the grazing animals, but comes about
in an indirect way. Where the forest
fires do not occur the young growth of
trees quickly takes possession of the
ground, and, therefore, a growth of
timber and good grazing in the forests
is impossible. A great many people
who own cattle or sheep and pasture
them in the forest own little or no land
of their own and must. therefore, de-
pend upon this open range for pasture.
There is, therefore. the incentive to
burn over the woodlands periodically in
order to maintain good grazing. There
fore, it is not strange that incendiary
fires should frequently occur under these
and while the open range
law is in force the protection of the
woodlands from ire will continue to be
a Difficult problem.
Grazing in itself is, therefore, not
to the growth of good forests,
but just to the extent that it encour-
age fires it is detrimental, and since
the growth of timber is of so much i'm
porCance and will add ten times as
much to the revenues of the country, it
would seem that if these fires cannot
be stopped in any other way a change
in the stock law becomes imperative.
The forests of the county have been
comparatively free from damage by in
sects. 1t is true there are localities
where at different times insects have
made their appearance and have done
some local damage. but it has never
been extensive. and usually of short
duration. so that nc special considera-
ton of insect trouble need be given
here. About four years ago the foliage
of many of the white pine turned a
rusty brown in the summer, and it was
thought that some serious fungus dis
ease had become prevalent, An ex-
animation at the time showed no evil
dence of either insect or fungus disease,
and since the trees all came out again
the following year with healthy foliage
and had apparently recovered, it is be-
lieved that the trouble was due to
climatic conditions, following a very
cold, dry winter.
The chestnut bark disease, or chest
nut blight, as it is generally called, has
apparently done no damage in the
county as vet. 1t has been found in
Allegany County to the eastward and
just across the Pennsylvania line TO the
north, so that it is quite probable chat
In few years the chestnut will suffer
severely from this source. This is a
fungus disease that works in the inner
bark of the tree and, from the point of
attack, which may be branch or the