INLAND MTXED FOREST. 



397 



however, forested areas are frequently met with where the original 

 growth of pine seems not to have been (list urbed, and here the trees 

 are often of rather imposing size, attaining a height of over .'JO meters 

 and a diameter, considerably above the base, of more than fi deci- 

 meters. As a rule, however, trees of this size are seen only in lim- 

 ited tracts, on soils comparatively heavy and moist. 



The renewal of the pine forest was somewhat carefully st udied, and 

 it was found that where the growth of pine has been removed decid- 



Fio. 73.— Pinus taeda along the Dismal Swamp Canal. 



nous trees usually take its plaee, except on the lightest, most sandy 

 soils. On the other hand, abandoned fields, especially when first 

 occupied by broom sedge (Andropoyon virginicus), are gradually col- 

 onized by seedling pines. Inhabitants of the region who have 

 observed the alternation of pine and of deciduous growth in their 

 immediate neighborhood confirm this view. Exceptions occur, how- 

 ever. Sometimes in open pine woods young growth of the pine is 

 abundant. Not rarely two adjacent fields, once cultivated but. now 

 left to nature, will show, the one a growth of seedling pines, the other 



