82

The Blue Ridge Division of Maryland.

This division of Maryland includes all that part of the State
between the tide-water Division on the east and the Mountain
or Alleghany Division on the west, and extends entirely
through the State from the Pennsylvania line, (Mason's and
Dixon's,) on the north to the Potomac which separates it
from the State of Virginia on the south. Commencing at
the head of tide-water of the streams which flow into the
Chesapeake Bay, it extends in a broad belt to the foot of the
Alleghany mountains, and is generally known as a part of
the "Alleghany Range."

Though the whole of this division does not belong,
to the same Geological period, yet the nature of the soil as
to its improvement and production, is sufficiently similar as
to be included in the same general description in a work
whose chief aim is a correct general exposition of the indus-
trial resources of the State. It is formed for the most part of
gently elevated parallel ridges, with fertile valleys lying be-
tween them. Through these ridges at nearly right angles,
large rivers and streams run to the Chesapeake, which effect-
ually drain this whole country, and afford to an almost infi-
nite extent water-power for all the' various departments of
manufactures; these ridges generally parallel to the ocean
culminate first in a well-defined ridge known as "Parr's-
Ridge," in the western part of. Montgomery, Howard and
in Carrol counties, whence to these is a gradual slope to Monoc-
acy River in Frederick county, thence the Monocacy Valley ex-
tends westerly to the foot of Catoctin Mountain, between which
and the South Mountain are the beautiful valleys known as
the Middletown Valley and Harbaugh's Valley.

Between the Blue Ridge and the foot of the Alleghanies at
Sideling Hill in the western part of Washington county, is
the famous Hagerstown Valley. This division, it will be
seen, is naturally divided into three chief sections, first, that
part extending from tide-water to the summit of Parr's Ridge.
Second, that part between Parr's Ridge and South Mountain
or Blue Ridge and that part between the Blue Ridge
and the foot of the Alleghanies in the western part of Wash-
ington county. There is a small valley as I have before said
between the Catoctin and Blue Ridge, no less distinguished
for its beautiful scenery than for its remarkable fertility and
the skill and care with which it has been cultivated.