University of Virginia Library

Forestry.

ALTHOUGH Albemarle can in no sense be considered
as a lumber producing county, there is still standing in
its forests a considerable quantity of white oak and
yellow pine, and other varieties of less value, of such size as
to furnish enough lumber for building purposes. Good pine
is sold at from $8 to $12 per 1,000 square feet and other
varieties proportional to their relative values.

Besides the larger growths, there is a much larger quantity
of second growth timber now large enough for fencing and
fire-wood, and, if not improperly managed, there is sufficient to
supply the lumber necessary for the growth of the county,
and for all demands of the farm.

Tan bark is being taken from the forests in great rapidity,
particularly in the Blue Ridge region, where, at the present
rate of cutting, the supply must soon be exhausted. It is a
great pity that of the vast amount of lumber cut down for
this purpose, only the bark is used, and the growth of centuries
is ruthlessly cut and permitted to rot, inflicting needless
injury to the future citizens of the county.

The time is not far distant when the people will have to
rise and prevent further desecration of this favored county,
and require new trees to be set out where one has been cut
down.

According to the Census Reports of 1880, 158,985 acres
of the 424,424 of the county's area are covered with timber.
This estimate is about correct for the present year, to which
should be added 21,000 acres of old fields, now occupied with
scrub pines and oaks of from 10 to 15 years growth.

The Umbrella tree, Magnolia Umbrella, is very common
along the cool branks of streams in the Piedmont district.
Its light and soft wood makes excellent pumps.

The White Wood, or as it is most commonly called in Albemarle,

the Poplar, Liriodendron Tulipifera, attains perfect
growth, and is everywhere met with, furnishing excellent lumber.
The inner bark of its branches and roots possess medicinal
properties of value in intermittent fever.

Astmina Triloba, the Papaw or Custard Apple, is found
along the banks of streams, but is nowhere abundant.

Tilia Americana, the Linden tree, is rarely met with away
from the cool hollows in the Blue Ridge, near Moorman's
river, where it attains its full size. Besides being a beautiful
tree well adapted for ornamental planting, its lumber is highly
prized for cabinet work. When reduced to pulp it is valuable
in the manufacture of paper. In Europe, an infusion of the
flowers, buds and leaves of the various species of Linden is
much used as a remedy for indigestion and nervous disorders.

Ilex Opaca, the Holly tree, is occasionally found in the forests,
always alone. They having evidently sprung from the
seeds dropped in the passage of migratory birds.

The Sugar Maple, Acer Saccharinum, is like the Holly only
occasionally met with in the natural state. But the Red Maple,
Acer Rubrum, is common, though not abundant in any locality,
as it is so widely distributed it would appear that it is an excellent
tree to cultivate for lumber, being much valued in
cabinet work.

The Box-Elder or Ash-leaved Maple, Negundo Aceroides,
grows along the streams in the eastern part of the county. It
is readily recognized by its peculiar ash-like leaves. Its timber
is soft and well adapted for the manufacture of paper pulp.
Its sap contains a small amount of saccharine matter, and
yields, on evaporation, a small amount of maple sugar.

Rhus Typhina, the Stag-Horn Sumach, attains the height
of 12 feet and a diameter of 2 to 3 inches along the roadsides.
Large quantities of its leaves are gathered and shipped
for the tanner's use.

Rhus Venenata, called the Poison Elder, is found in the wet
parts of the county occasionally. It is exceedingly noxious
when brought in contact with the human body.

Robinia Pseudacaia, or Common Locust, is common, grows

vigorously and attains maturity when left to itself. No attempt
is made to utilize its valued timber.

The Honey Locust, Gleditschia Triacanthos, is found occasionally
in the woods in the eastern part of the county. In
other portions of the county it is more frequently met with
along the roadsides, where it has escaped cultivation. It is
said that good beer can be made from its fruit.

The Red Bud or Judas tree, Cercis Canadensis, from its
oriental namesake from whose limbs Judas is said to have
hung himself, is widely distributed through the forests and
frequently attains a diameter of 18 inches. Its wood is not
only beautiful in color and susceptible of a high polish, but
shows a beautiful wavy grain, giving it, when polished, the
appearance of a piece of watered silk. It is worthy of being
made into veneers for the manufacture of furniture.

Prunus Americanus, the wild plum, is not a stranger to the
lover of nature, and attains in a few instances at least the
remarkable diameter of 24 inches.

Prunus Pennsylvanica, the wild red cherry, is occasionally
met with; its timber, though sometimes used, is much inferior
to that of Prunus Serotina, the wild black cherry, which
is common.

Spirea Opulifolia, the nine bark, is a shrub attaining the
height of ten feet, easily recognized from the peculiar manner
in which the layers of its bark separate.

Pyrus Augustifolia, the Southern Crab apple, is sometimes
met with. Its sour fruit is not utilized, no doubt from the
rareness of its occurrence.

Cratœgus Coccinea, the Scarlet Fruited Thorn, is found
along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge.

The June berry, or as it is more commonly called in this
locality, Wild Currant, Amelanchier Canadensis, is found everywhere.
Its beautiful white flowers appearing before the leaves
in early spring gives to the woods a fresh appearance that is
most pleasing to the eye. Its hard and dense heartwood furnishes
excellent blocks for the tanner.

The Witch Hazel, Hamamelis Virginica, is found in the
mountain hollows.

Liquid Ambarstyraciflua, the Sweet Gum, is found between
Hardware river and Buckeyeland creek. The wood of this
tree when seasoned is exceedingly well adapted for cabinet
work, being equal in beauty to walnut.

Cornus Alternifolia, the Swamp Dogwood, is found along
the Rivanna river, while the Flowering Dogwood, C. Florida,
is known everywhere in early spring by the four white conspicuous
leaves of its involucre. The wood of the latter is
well adapted for turning. When cut in early spring there
exudes a yellowish-red colored sap resembling blood to a
slight extent.

The Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus Glandulosa, has escaped
from cultivation, and is in some localities very common. It
is a rapid grower, and as its timber is very durable and possesses
much strength, it should be encouraged.

Nyssa Sylvatica, the Sour or Black Gum, is common, adding
great beauty by its scarlet leaves to the forests in the fall. Its
timber is very compact.

Viburnum Prunifolium, the Black Haw, with its white cymes,
lends beauty and fragrance to our woods.

The Laurel or Ivy, Kalmia Latifolia, is common in Piedmont
and Blue Ridge Albemarle. Its close grained wood is
susceptible of a high polish and much prized for turning work.

Rhododendron Catawbiense, the Rose Bay, is found only near
Col. Duke's farm in Sugar Hollow.

Diospyros Virginiana, the Persimmon, is common. The
timber of this tree is valuable for shoe lasts and spools, and
would make excellent axletrees.

Fraxinus Americana, the White Ash, is not abundant now
in the county, though it is well adapted to the soil and climate,
as shown by a few magnificent specimens of this beautiful
forest tree.

The Fringe Tree, or Old Man's Beard, Chionanthus Virginica,
is easily found in June along our streams, and may be
recognized by its fringed white flowers.

The Catalpa tree, Catalpa Bignonioides, is frequently found
in the natural state, having in most cases escaped from cultivation.
Its timber is of value for fence posts and rails.

Sassafras Officinale, the common Sassafras, is very abundant
along fences and in old fields. The oil obtained from its
roots is valuable, and its manufacture is worthy of some attention
in this county. It is not an unhandsome wood, polishes
well, and as it does not permit vermin to harbor near it,
it possesses properties well fitting it for chamber furniture.

Ulmus Fulva, the Red or Slippery Elm, and Ulmus Americana,
the American, or Water Elm, are found along the streams,
Ulmus Alata, the Winged Elm, is met with in the swampy
portions of the eastern part of the county.

The Sugar Berry, Celtis Occidentallis, occurs along Moorman's
river, and elsewhere.

The wood of the Red Mulberry, Morus Rubra, is worthy of
attention, for veneers, it having a very fine satiny grain susceptible
of very high polish.

Platanus Occidentallis, the Sycamore or Button-Ball tree, is
found everywhere, though no effort is made to utilize its lumber,
which makes splendid tobacco boxes.

The White and Black Walnuts, Juglans Cinerea and Nigra,
are found in the rich soil along the small streams. Very few
trees are now standing large enough for timber. As the Black
Walnut grows so well in this county, it is one of the best for
planting, and as they attain in 20 to 25 years development
sufficient for timber, their planting could be made a source of
large revenue.

Carya Alba, the Shell Bark Hickory, is found only along
the Blue Ridge, and there of large size only in the remote
hollows.

Carya Micro Carpa, the White or Small Fruited Hickory,
is quite common in Piedmont, where its closely appressed
bark distinguishes it readily from the Shell Bark.

Carya Tomentosa, the Red or Mocker Nut Hickory, is the
most common member of the genus Carya. Attaining large
size, its timber is valuable for many purposes.

Carya Porcina and Carya Amara, the Pig Nut and Bitter
Nut Hickories, are occasionally seen.

The Oaks are well represented by the following species:

Quercus Alba, White Oak; Q. Obtusiloba, Post Oak; Q.
Bicolor, Swamp White Oak; Q. Prinus, Chestnut Oak; Q.
Prinoides, Yellow Oak; Q. Rubra, Red Oak; Q. Coccinea,
Scarlet Oak; Q. Tinctoria, Black Oak; Q. Nigra, Black Jack
Oak; Q. Falcata, Spanish Oak; Q. Palustris, Pin Oak; Q.
Phellos, Willow Oak, and Q. Ilicifolia, the Bear Oak.

Of the above varieties the most common are the Black,
Scarlet, Post, Chestnut and White Oaks. Q. Princides is but
rarely met with, but always of the size of a tree. The Chestnut
Oak is being rapidly used by the "tan bark" gatherers.
It is a great pity that these, the noblest of our trees, are most
sacrificed by our citizens.

Castanæ Pumila, the Chinquapin, is very abundant as a
shrub, and occasionally met with as a small tree. Castanæ
Vulgaris, var Americana, the Chestnut tree is extremely abundant.
The fruit is gathered and sold to shippers. Its wood
attains perfect development, and for fence timber it has no
superior.

Fagus Ferruginea, the Beech, with its umbrageous shade, is
found in the Piedmont district.

Carpinus Caroliniana, the Water Beech, and Ostrya Virginica,
the Iron Wood, are found along most of the mountain
streams.

Betula Lenta, the Cherry Birch, is common in the Ragged
Mountains, and found elsewhere in the county. It is better
known locally as Mountain Mahogany. Betula Nigra, the
Red Birch, is frequently met with along the streams east of
the Southwest and Green Mountains.

Alnus Serrulata, the Black Alder, is known along every
stream where, as a shrub, it forms dense thickets.

The Black Willow, Salix Nigra; White Willow, S. Alba,
and Silky Willow, S. Sericea, are also very common along our
streams.

Populus Tremuloides, the American Aspen, or Silver Maple,

as it is frequently improperly called, is found occasionally
along the Rivanna river and near the Nelson county line.

Amongst the Pines, Pinus Pungens, the Table Mountain
Pine, is one of the most interesting. Pinus Strobus, the White
Pine, is found most commonly in the hollows of the Blue
Ridge, where the saw-mill men are closely following, so that
it will soon be very rare. Pinus Rigida, the Pitch Pine, with
its rough and dark bark, is most commonly known as an Old
Field Pine. Its resinous wood is of little value. Pinus Inops,
the Jersey Scrub, is also well known. The Yellow Pine,
Pinus Mitis, once very common, is disappearing beneath the
devouring teeth of the circular saw. Pinus Toleda, the Loblolly,
is found occasionally in the eastern part of the county.

Tsuga Canadensis, the Hemlock, attains a diameter of three
feet along the head waters of Moorman's river.

Thuya Occidentalis, the White Cedar or Arbor Vitæ, is only
found as a very small shrub, but the Red Cedar, Juniperus
Virginiana, occurs abundantly enough to be shipped north
for the lead pencil manufacturers.