The nature of the geological formation of Maine shows that it belongs to one of the oldest parts of the United States. The marks of the Glacial period may be plainly traced in several parts of the State; the changes in extent and form of the river beds and lakes are shown by the rock formation of the vicinity and the nature of the deposits which were brought from the mountains to the valleys. The northern portion of the State be longs to the Devonian period and the region about Penobscot Bay to the Silurian. In the southern part of the State arc fossiliferous clays. There are a number of low ridges which evidently were once portions of mountain ranges, but which usually formed angles with the two great ranges that at one time extended across the State. Granite, slate and marble ex ist in large quantities.
soil of the State shows the ef fects of the Glacial period as much as the rocks; the greater part of the surface is till and various forms of glacial debris. The old lake bottoms, now dry land, are largely alluvial and in these places the soil is very fertile. In such localities there are extensive agricultural lands.
Minerals and is one of the most important wealth producing minerals of the State. Along the coast and inland for some distance there are large areas of granite outcrop. It is found in such quantities near tide water that quarrying and shipping are com paratively easy and inexpensive. The feldspar and quartz are easily separated. Hallowell, Dix Island, Vinal Haven and Freeport furnish the largest quantity. The capitol at Albany, N. Y., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, are built of granite from Hallowell. Crystalline limestone and marble are found in several places; in the southwestern part of the State the deposits are quite extensive. Slate of good quality is found in the central part of the State. It is quarried for table tops, black boards, roofing and for mantels. The slate from Piscataquis County is remarkably pure, capable of being split into thin plates, and in color a deep blue-black. Silica and feldspar of an excellent quality are found in several places. Some of the products made in whole or in part from silica and feldspar are glass, porcelain, scouring soap, sandpaper, earthenware and woodfiller. The silica is found in vein-quartz in some of the crystalline rocks. Tourmalin is found in Oxford County in large and beautiful crystals. Some of the other minerals are iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, manganese, tin, silver, gold, antimony, pyrites and beryl. The annual value of the mineral output is about: granite, $1,000,000; limestone and marble, $1,000,000; slate, $180,000; silica, $50,000; other mineral products, $60,000, making the total amount for quarry purposes of about $2,600,000. Maine ranks second among the States in the output of granite; fourth in the output of slate and sixth in the output of limestone and marble.
There are in the State nearly 30 mineral springs which are known and used; 10 of them are in Androscoggin County. The State reports about 30 springs with an output of about 1,850,000 gallons. The most noted of these is the Poland spring situated in the town of that name.
climate is cold a consider able part of the year; snow covers the ground from three to five months. The summers are short; in the southern part of the State there is not more, usually less, than five months for the maturing of crops. The extensive forests have been a protection, and with the good river drainage and the sea breezes have tended to make the climate most healthful. A fair aver
age of the mean temperature in January is 15° F.; in May 52°; in July 68°; in October 51°; in December 22°. The average tempera ture in the whole State is in summer about F. and in winter 20° F.
trees and plants common to the northeastern part of the'United States flourish here. In the southern part are fine grasses, hardy fruits and a varied shrubbery. The strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, thorn-apple and gooseberry grow in all parts of the State. (See Forests and Agriculture).
Fauna.— Maine has a large number and variety of animals, among which are bear, cari bou, deer, moose, fox, beaver, sable, marten, mink, weasel, squirrel, rabbit, porcupine and wildcat. Wild geese, duck, teal; plover, gulls and various other sea fowl are found about its lakes and sea coasts; 'partridges, robins, bobo links, orioles and other birds belonging to the north temperate zone are common. The waters of Maine abound with fish in great variety. (See section Fisheries).
Maine is known as the /Pine Tree State) because of the large extent of pine forests which once existed within its limits. The majestic °mast pine,)) which the State once fur nished for many ships, has almost become a thing of the past, yielding to the demands of commerce. The greatest part of the State is covered with forests; about 65 per cent of the State's land area is woodland. The northern and central parts are forest; in the southern part along the coast and along the navigable streams the land is cleared and cultivated. Trees grow rapidly. Denuded tracts, unless cultivated soon, send up an undergrowth of seedlings which become trees of fair size in the course of a few years. Most of the lumber of Maine used in the manufacture of pulp and paper has been taken from the drainage of the Androscoggin, Kennebec and Penobscot rivers, in about the following proportions: 42 per cent from the Androscoggin; 25 per cent from the Kennebec and 33per cent from the Penobscot. The total area from which the whole pulp lumber consumed in the State has been taken has been estimated at 4,741,000 acres, leaving more than one-half the entire region from which no pulp wood of any consequence has ever been removed. There has been estimated standing 21,239,000,000 feet of spruce alone, be sides an almost equal quantity comprising pine, cedar, hemlock, poplar and various species of hard wood. The annual growth is considered sufficient to warrant the cutting of 600,000,000 feet of spruce timber each year, without de pleting the supply. The forest commissioner states that it is safe to reckon that there will be from 11,000,000 to 12,000,000 acres of land in the State that will be lumber producing for all time. There are now being taken annually upwards of 30,000,000 feet of white birch from Maine forests. The white birch area is a wide belt extending entirely across the :State. Though used for many purposes its greatest utilization is by spool factories which produce about 800, 000,000 spools, valued at more than $1,000,000. Besides being used in the production of spools a large quantity is shipped to Europe in spool bars. A variety of small articles are also man ufactured from it, as baskets, furniture, office equipments, etc. The science of forestry is be ing employed extensively in the preservation of timber by private corporations.