“Plant a tree.” Ever hear that advice? Right here at the Site of Maryland’s First State Tree Nursery Plaque, we celebrate where that grand idea took root in Maryland.
This plaque marks the spot of Maryland’s first state tree nursery. It’s a testament to a century of forest conservation. The Maryland Legislature passed the Roadside Tree Law in 1914. This law let the state plant and protect roadside trees. It also enabled the State Board of Forestry to establish a state tree nursery.
The University of Maryland, then the Maryland Agricultural College, donated this land. It was at Paint Branch and the intersection of Route 1 and Lakeland Road. Here, the science of forestry conservation began. Can you imagine Route 1 as a quiet country road back then?
Fred W. Besley, Maryland’s first State Forester, spearheaded this effort. He had worked with Gifford Pinchot, the father of American Forestry. Besley saw Maryland’s forests decimated by logging and agriculture. He wanted to restore them. He established three state forest tree nurseries near the University of Maryland. Production grew from thousands to millions of trees annually.
The nursery expanded to the Beltsville Experimental Tree Nursery around 1944. In 1950, the College Park nursery closed. It moved to Harmons in Anne Arundel County. Here, they started a Tree Improvement Program. They propagated superior Loblolly and Eastern White Pine. This Harmons site was the first nursery owned by the Maryland Forest Service. It was later renamed Buckingham Tree Nursery.
In 1996, construction forced another move. The nursery relocated to Preston in Caroline County. It was renamed the John S. Ayton Forest Tree Nursery. This honored the person instrumental in its establishment.
Over the years, only a few people led the state tree nursery. Silas Sines was one. He guided the nursery’s growth from 1929 to 1974. Sines pioneered methods for growing healthy trees economically. People sought his knowledge. He designed tools like the root-pruner and pine cone seed extractor. Because of Sines, Maryland’s trees were known as the best and cheapest.
Larry Maxim, a Savage River State Forester, said it best. “The State Forest Tree Nursery symbolizes man’s hope for the future.” It represents our love for forests. It shows our desire to plant trees where there are none.
So, as you stand here at the Site of Maryland’s First State Tree Nursery Plaque, remember its legacy. Think of the countless trees grown and planted. Appreciate the visionaries who made it happen. The best time to plant a tree may have been yesterday, but the second best time is now.