The part of the state called the 'Eastern Shore, lying between Chesapeake and Dela ware bays and the Atlantic, is for the most part level, and in some places swampy. Toward the n. extremity the peninsula is somewhat rocky and broken. The Western Shore, lying between Chesapeake bay and the Potomac, is in the s. portion level and sandy, and in some places rnarshy; but, n. of the point just above Washington on the Potomac, it is first hilly and afterwards mountainous. The main ranges of the Alle ghanies pass through the narrow portion of the state extending westward between Penn sylvania and Virginia. The highest mountains are not more than 2,500 ft. high. The most beautiful scenery in the state is in a part of the Cumberland valley, in Washington co., near the Pennsylvania line. The state has on the Atlantic only 33 m. of coast and not a single good harbor; but Chesapeake bay, extending nearly through the state from s. to n., furnishes a coast-line of nearly 500 miles. The bay is navigable through its whole extent, and has some good harbors. Baltimore, the principal city of the state, lies upon an arm of the Chesapeake called Patapsco bay. The Potomac, the principal river, is navigable for about 125 m. on the NV. border. The other rivers of the state are: pri the Western Shore, the Wicomico, Patuxent, South Severn, Patapsco. Bush, and Susquehanna; on the Eastern Shore, the Pocomoke, 3lanokin, Nanticoke, Choptank, St_ Michael's, Wye, Chester, Sassafras, Elk. Many of these rivers might properly be called estuaries of Chesapeake bay. Chincoteague, Sinepuxent, and St. Martin's bays are sounds lying between the Eastern Shore and the island reefs and barriers which receive the Atlantic surf. Pocomoke sound, Tangier sound, and Eastern bay are a part of the Chesapeake, in which are numerous islands, among them Kent, Bloodworth's, Holland's, Smith's, Tangier, Halfmoon, and Assateagne.
Copper, hematitic iron, galena, and manganese, are found in the central portion of the state, while bituminous coal is abundant in the n.w., and bog-iron in the east. hIarble, of several varieties, and limestone and sandstone for building, are abundant in the central portion of the state, while traces of gold, nickel, and cobalt have been found in some places.
The wild animals are those usually found on the Atlantic coast, Bears are common in the w., and even the deer has not been exterminated. The fox, raccoon, and opossum are frequently met with. Wild ducks, in great variety, pigeons, partridges, snipe, and quail are found in immense numbers in the e. part of the state. Fish, of excellent qual ity, are abundant, and the oysters of Chesapeake bay are large and finely flavored.
The principal forest trees of the lowlands are the gum, cypress, cedar, juniper, dog wood, rnanolia, holly, elm, cherty, locust, persimmon, beech, sycamore, sassafras, pop lar, and red maple, while in the mountainous districts are found several species of oak, maple, walnut, hickory, ash, chestnut, birch, pine, and spruce.
The soil of the e. part of the st,ate is a sandy loam, easily made productive by fertil
ization. Peaches and market-garden products grow here in great perfection. In the valleys of the central and northern portions of the state the sod is exceedingly fertile, producing large crops of tobacco, wheat, and corn. The climate is equable, subject neither to the severe cold of the north nor to the extreme heat of the south. The low and marshy lands on the Chesapeake and the lower Potomac are to some extent mias matic, hut the rest of the state is generally healthful. The mean annual temperature varies from 54° to 64°. The mercury rarely falls below zero, while the summers are little if any warmer than in Pennsylvania.
The number of farms in 1870 was 27,000; number of acres of improved farm land, 2,914,007; cash value of farms, $170,369,684; of farming implements and machinery, $5,268,676; amount of wages paid in the year, $8,560,367; value of all farm produc tions, $35,343,927; value of orchard products, $1,319,405; of produce of market gar dens, $1,039,782; of forest products, $613,209; of home mamitictures, $63,608; of ani mals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $4,621,418; of live stock, $18,433,698; wheat produced, 5,774,503 bush. ; rye, 307,089 bush; corn, 11,701,817 bush.; oats. 3,221,643 bush.; Irish potatoes, 1,632,205 bush.; sweet potatoes, 218,706 bush.; tobacco, 15,785,339 lbs.; wool, 435,213 lbs. ; butter, 5,014,729 lbs.; cheese, 6,732 lbs.; hops, 2,800 lbs.; flax, 30,760 lbs. • maple sugar, 70,464 lbs.; honey, 118,938 lbs.; wine, 11,583 gallons; milk sold, 1,520;101 gals.; sorgliam molasses, 28,563 gals. • hay, 223,119 tons; number of horses, 89,696; mules and asses, 9,830; milch cows, 94:794; working oxen, 22,491; other cattle, 98,074; sheep, 129,697; swine, 257,893; horses not on farms, 12,520; cattle not on farms, 16,040. The wheat crop of 1873 has been estimated at 5,262,000 bush., and val ued at over $8,000,000; the rye crop St 309,000 bush. valued at $247,200; corn, 10,451, 000 bush., valued at $7,106,680; Irish potatoes, 1,336,000 bush., valued at $935,000; oats, 2,798,000 bush., valued at $1,231,120; tobacco, 19,300,000 lbs., valued at $1,486,100, number of horses, 104,500; of mules and asses, 10,700; of rnilch cows, 96,900; cattle, 125,600; of sheep, 133,200; of swine, 256,200.
In 1870 Maryland had 5,812 manufacturing- establishments, employing 44,860 persons, and having capital amounting to $36,438,729; wages paid, $12,682,817; value of annual products, $76,593,613. The chief lines of manufacturing industsy were: refining sugar and molasses, clothing, cotton goods, flouring-mill products, boots and shoes, iron, tin, copper, and sheet-iron ware, tobacco and cigars, canned fruits and vegetables, canned oysters and fish, bread and bakery products, leather, furniture, lumber, malt and dis tilled liquors, bricks, printing and publishing, and copper smelting. The value of the oysters and fish canned in Baltimore in 1874 was estimated at more than $6,000,000.