MARYLAND WEATHEK SERVICE 367 



demand. The timber is mostly cut by portable mills, though there 

 are a few large mills on the peninsula. During the past few years 

 the mine timber industry has gained considerable prominence, es- 

 pecially where railroad shipping is feasible. Long sticks with a mid- 

 dle diameter of from 10" to 18" are most in demand, and these are 

 shipped generally by rail in the log to the anthracite coal regions of 

 Pennsylvania. Several thousand cords of cordwood are cut every 

 year in this section, and shipped by water and by rail to Baltimore, 

 Wilmington, Philadelphia and other cities. 



There was formerly a large quantity of cypress along the Poco- 

 moke River, and its tributaries, but this has been almost entirely 

 cut out. All hardwoods are cut to a greater or less extent, but the 

 main cut is confined to but few species, namely white oak for bridge 

 timber and ship building, mixed oaks for piling, red gum for saw 

 timber, and for cutting into veneer for the manufacture of berry, 

 tomato and peach baskets. The swamp hardwoods, owing to the 

 poor quality of material and difficulty of getting out the timber, 

 have not been cut closely. On the other hand in the northern coun- 

 ties where pine is less abundant, and the hardwoods of better quality, 

 these stands have been cut closely for timber of all kinds, especially 

 for local uses. 



The importance of the forest of the Eastern Shore section is em- 

 phasized by the following facts : 



1 — The mild climate and long growing season produce ideal con- 

 ditions of growth. 



2 — The soil is especially adapted to the growing of timber, and 

 on much of the land it will be a more profitable crop than anything 

 else. 



3 — The loblolly pine, a native tree of the region, is, without doubt, 

 the most important timber tree of the state because of its exceedingly 

 rapid growth and the marketable value of its timber product. It 

 forms extensive forests which, if properly managed, will insure a 

 source of much wealth to the peninsula. 



1 — The natural protection against forest fires is exceptionally 

 good, and as a result forest fires are not common. This with the 



