378 Mediterranean Peninsulas. 



large Arcadian plateau of the Peloponnesus, and the 

 other smaller, hot but fertile plains and plateaus. The 

 most valuable conifer forest is found on the higher 

 ranges between the 2,500 and 5,000 foot level, below the 

 snow-clad mountain tops, where especially two species 

 of fir, Aiies Apollinis and Abies regince Amaliae (a 

 species remarkable for its sprouting habit), with other 

 firs and several species of Juniperus and Cupressus, form 

 sometimes extensive forests. Other common trees are 

 chestnut, sycamore, several species of oak and poplar, 

 and, on the coast, Pinus halepensis. 



The firs occupy about 35 per cent, of the forest area, 

 oaks and deciduous forest 45 per cent. Among the for- 

 est products which are exported, we find galls, vermilion 

 and sumach prominent. 



With the exception of the Piadus raiige, which is com- 

 posed of metamorphic rock, a poor, dry limestone is 

 characteristic of the country except where fertile, 

 alluvial and dUuvial deposits cover it in valleys along 

 the coast. The climate is, however, so favorable that 

 even the poor soil would readily reclothe itself if left 

 alone. The winters are short, hardly three months, and 

 with hardly any snow or ice except on the high moim- 

 tains, making the vegetative period nine months. Tem- 

 perature ranges from 20 to 106 degrees P.; rainfall 

 average 400 mm. ; the summers are, to be sure, rainless 

 and dry, but the other seasons are humid, somewhat less 

 than in middle Europe. Eapid growth is the result of 

 these conditions. But the continued pasturing of goats 

 and sheep — some six million — ^prevents any natural 

 reforestation. Increased taxation on this industry has 

 had no effect, and the practice of permitting the people 



