308 



THE FOKESTS OF CECIL COUNTY 



was never large and the White Oaks are so constantly drawn on for 

 various uses that the supply is always low. 



CHARCOAL AND COKDWOOD. 



Cordwood is the principal forest crop of the county. Owing to the 

 cheapness of coal and its greater convenience for domestic use, the 

 amount of wood used for fuel (Fig. 24) is small. The greater part 

 of the cordwood cut is made into charcoal, for use by the Principio 



FIG. 24. Cordwood for domestic use. Elk Neck. 



Forge Company. This company's annual consumption is from 

 325,000 to 350,000 bushels. Charcoal burning has been practiced 

 in this region for over fifty years (Plate XXX, Fig. 2). Whether 

 the local supply of timber for charcoal will keep pace with the de- 

 mand is mainly a question of protecting the forest from fire. 



FOREST FIRES. 



Forest fires are responsible for the present poor condition of the 

 Barrens timber. The charcoal burner, in cutting over a tract, 



