THE STATE OF MAINE. 



"The vState of Maine is the easternmost portion of the 

 United States of America, and lies between 43 degs. 6 min. 

 and 47 degs. 27 min., 33 sec. N. Lrat. ; between 66 degs. 56 

 min. 48 sec. and 71 degs. 6 min. 41 sec. W. I^on. The 45th 

 parallel crosses the State within 30 miles of its geographical 

 center. This position is almost precisely equidistant betwixt 

 the equator and the pole. In consequence of this position 

 the winds of Maine are variable, not constant like those of 

 the tropics, nor periodical like those of the Indian peninsulas. 

 They prevail during the year for a longer or shorter time 

 from every quarter of the compass. The draft rarely pre- 

 vails from any one compass point for more than two or three 

 days successively, so that the various climatic phases attend- 

 ant upon change of wind follow one another in rapid succes- 

 sion. 



It further results from the geographic position of the 

 State that rains in Maine are non-periodic. The mean eleva- 

 tion of a country is one of the most difficult of its physical 

 conditions to ascertain. After exploring all sources of infor- 

 mation I have concluded that the figures 600 feet nearly ex- 

 press the mean height of the State of Maine above the sea. 

 The mean or average temperature of the State is 62 deg. 43 

 min., while in the northern sections covered by forests it is 

 considerably lower than this. 



Extent of Forest and Water Surfaces of Maine. 



The following table gives a tolerably close approximation : 



Area of the State 350oo SQ- miles. 



Approximate area of lakes, ponds and river surfaces.. 3,200 " " 



Total land surface 31,800 " " 



In farms 9,000 " " 



In the wilderness state, therefore 22,800 " " 



