MARYLAND WEATHER SERVICE 155 



and the salt winds too prevalent to admit of oaks. In accordance 

 with its xerophvtic habit, the Scrub Pine is generally the first tree 

 to appear on the sides of railway cuttings, as may be seen, for ex- 

 ample, near Rosedale in Baltimore County on the Baltimore and 

 Ohio Railroad. Xo account of herbaceous vegetation need be given, 

 for in a pure stand of pine the trees are so close together that there 

 is insufficient light for any undergrowth, in fact the excessive crowd- 

 ing of the trees prevents their own proper development. 



The other pine of the region, the Loblolly, can be readily dis- 

 tinguished by its longer leaves, which are grouped in threes. It 

 commonly goes by the name of "Foxtail Pine." On the sand strand 

 at Piney Point, St. Mary's County, the vegetation is almost entirely 

 coniferous, including Scrub Pine and Red Cedar, as well as Loblolly 

 Pine. The latter occurs in pure stands in southern St. Mary's 

 County, for example, at St. Georges Island, and readily reseeds 

 an area which has been cut over. In other localities it occurs mixed 

 with the other species, and frequently it is found as scattered indi- 

 viduals, especially towards the northern part of the district. The 

 relative abundance of the two species is about two of Scrub Pine 

 to one of Loblolly, although this ratio does not hold for the extreme 

 southern part of the district, which lies near the region where the 

 latter is dominant. A careful investigation was made of its dis- 

 tribution. It is found in all except the extreme northern parts of 

 the district,"' and seems able to live in a great variety of habitats, 

 being better fitted than the Scrub Pine to endure the effects of salt 

 soil and atmosphere, and the strong winds which are met in posi- 

 tions bordering the larger rivers and estuaries. This is illustrated 

 by the flora of St. Georges Island, already referred to. Here we 

 find no Scrub Pine (although this species occurs on the adjacent 

 mainland), but in places some Spanish Oak and Sweet Gum are 

 present. Although it is relatively more abundant near the coast, 

 the Loblolly is by no means lacking in the interior, fur it occurs 

 at the extreme inner limit of the district, as at College Park and 

 Laurel, Prince George's County. Although it is able to endure mari- 

 time conditions, it is apparently not so xerophvtic a species as the 



*The northern limit of the species is stated by Sargent to be Cape May, 

 New Jersey. 



