366 THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



occupies about thirty per cent, of the forest area of this section. The 

 scrub pine forests are of small extent and of little commercial im- 

 portance. They occur in parts of Queen Anne's, Kent and Cecil 

 counties, but are always in small areas. The pitch pine, sometimes 

 calln] foxtail pine, is found only sparingly in the central counties 

 of the Eastern Shore, and though superior to the scrub pine as a 

 timber tree is of little importance because of its limited distribu- 

 tion. The pine forests of the Eastern Shore cover about forty per 

 cent, of the total forest area and furnish about seventy per cent, of 

 the timber cut. The present stand of merchantable pine is 538,303,- 

 000 board feet having a stumpage value of approximately $2,320,000. 



The hardwood forest may be divided into two main types, namely, 

 the upland type growing on well drained soils, and the swamp type, 

 occupying the swamps exclusively. The upland hardwoods are more 

 valuable because of better soil conditions. Their general excellence 

 is reflected in greater height growth, better development, and in- 

 creased per cent, of the more valuable species. The principal com- 

 mercial species are the oaks, hickory, yellow poplar, maple and red 

 gum. 



The swamp type occupies large areas in the southern counties 

 as far north as Queen Anne's County, where it gives way to the 

 upland type. The characteristic species are red gum, black gum, red 

 maple, pin oak and willow oak. Since the water table is so near the 

 surface, the root system of the swamp hardwoods is necessarily 

 shallow, producing trees mostly of a low, scrubby growth and of 

 relatively small per acre value as compared with the upland type. 



The eastern shore hardwood forests cover about sixty per cent, 

 of the wooded area. The present merchantable stand is 408,000,000 

 board feet with an approximate stumpage value of $810,000. 



Forest Products. — The loblolly pine forests furnish most of the 

 timber that is cut. The principal uses are for lumber, mine props 

 and cordwood. Most stands are cut as soon as they reach merchant- 

 able size, that is to say, when the trees attain an average diameter 

 of twelve to fifteen inches. As a rule, the stands are not allowed to 

 grow large enough to make more than the poorer grades of lumber 

 (chiefly used for box boards) and rough lumber to supply the local 



