240 THE FORESTS OF PEIISrCE GEOKGE^S COUNTY 



transportation facilities and good nearby markets. There are two 

 trunk lines of railroad, and three shorter lines traversing the county, 

 in addition to two electric lines. It has also good water transporta- 

 tion on the southwestern and southeastern boundaries, thus bring- 

 ing all sections within easy reach of the markets. There are several 

 good wagon roads and others will be greatly improved under the new 

 system of State roads. Most of the roads, however, are poor in the 

 winter season when much of the wood and timber hauling is done. 



Freight rates by rail from Upper Marlboro, the county seat, to 

 Baltimore are 80c. per ton by the carload for both cordwood and 

 lumber. This is equivalent to about $1.20 per cord for pine, $1.60 

 per cord for oak, and for oak lumber about $2.20 per thousand feet 

 B. M. The rates to Washington are about the same. 



Destructive Influences. 



The main causes responsible for the present poor condition of the 

 forests are fires, browsing of animals and destructive methods of 

 cutting. 



FIRES. 



Forest fires in the county for the year 1907 burned over 900 acres 

 of woodland and caused an estimated loss of $3,600 in fences and 

 timber burned. The loss resulting in the decreased j)roducing power 

 of the forest is not included ; with this added the amount would be 

 many times greater than reported. During the previous year the 

 estimated loss %vas five times as great. The fire damage has been 

 greatest over the northern and western sections of the county, where 

 it alone has, during the past twenty years, cut down the producing 

 capacity of the forests at least one-third. 



The effects of fire are: (a) the burning of the leaves and litter 

 on the ground wdiich are needed to conserve the moisture, protect the 

 seed, and to fertilize the soil; (b) the destruction of the seed, and 

 young seedlings that have already started, and which are so essential 

 for the renewal of the forest; (c) the burning of the cambium, or 

 living wood of young trees, on the side most exposed to the fire, cans- 



