The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-04-03
EASTERN SHORE GAINS FROM
G. G. G.


walton Corps. District Forester
Nelson H. Fritz, of Salisbury, states
that the work of the G.. G. G. on the
Eastern Shore is making excellen
progress, and promises to be of last
ing benefit to the whole region. Mr.
Fritz's district comprises Cecil Kent
Queen Anne, Caroline, Talbot, Dor.
chester, Somerset, Wicomico, ant
Worcester Counties.
I'VE have on the Eastern Shore,
says Mr.. Fritz, lone thing that we
ought to keep, and another thing
that we ought to get rid of. The
first is our loblolly pine, and the
second is our marsh mosquito. The
c. C. C. is working to protect and
develop the pine, and to eradicate
the insect pest"
Since November, 1888, Mr.. Fritz
states, a C. C. C. Camp has been in
operation on the Pocomoke State
Forest of 1900 acres. To develop
the timber stand, and to protect it
from fire, has been the chief concern
of the camp.
Here, Mr.. Fritz goes on to say,
lis a first class opportunity to dem
onstrate in practice the principles of
forest management. Loblolly pine
is the favored tree, because it grows
rapidly and produces good, easily
worked lumber. Hardwoods which
overtop growing pines, or which pre-
vent the development of pine seed
lings, are cut out. Good quality
white oak and red gum which do not
interfere with the pines are left.
Vines, briars, and laurel are also re-
moved where they affect tree growth.
The pines themselves, if in too close
a stand, are thinned out. Bare areas
are planted to pine seedlings. Many
a private owner of woodland has Wis
tied the camp to observe the results
of our stand improvement work, and
has gone back home with informa-
ton that will be helpful to him in the
management of his own lands. Much
of the wood we obtain from this
work is split, cut into four-foot
lengths, and sold to local residents
at a nominal price. We have never
had enough to meet the demand"
Protection against fire has been
obtained, Mr.. Fritz says, by the con-
struction of II miles of roads, to
gether with a system of firebreaks.
The roads are for the use of every
body, just as the Pocomoke Forest
itself belongs to all the people of the
Eastern Shore.
Mosquitoes, Mr.. Fritz asserts, are
the chief drawback to the develop
ment of Maryland bay and ocean
fronts. MANY otherwise attractive
places" he declares, "have failed to
draw visitors because of the presence
of the insects. Last November two
mosquito control camps were estab.
lished in Worcester County, one al
Herring Creek, near Ocean City, and
the other at Public Landing, not fan
from Snow HILL The species we are
after is the salt marsh mosquito
which breeds in pools and sheet
water in the marshes. To get rid Of
him, or her, it is necessary to dis
bitches that will drain the marsh be
tween tides. Besides preventing the
| formation of stagnant water in which
the mosquito breeds, this let's il
small fish to feed upon the insects il
the larval stage.
"Mr. S. L. Crosthwait, who ha!
general supervision over both camps
reports that up to date they have
ditched 100000 lineal feet, ant
have cleaned 203,00O lineal feet o.
old ditch. The C. c. c.. boys, mex
perienced in this type of work onl!
few months ago, have made the re
markable record of 22.5 feet O.
ditching per man per hour. Incl
dentally, Mr.. Crosthwait tells me
that mosquito control work will, il
his opinion, distinctly benefit loca
muskrat growers, in that it will pre-
vent the destruction of three-squar'
grass, like that which has occurred
in places along Sinepuxent Bay
Three-square grass is destroyed by
salt water which, after high tides
stands upon the marsh. Ditchint
does not permit salt water to stand
but drains it off. So, too, after ;
high tide, bitches permit rapid re
moval Of the water when the tide re
cedes. Where there is any chapc'
that ditching will affect muskral