424 



BOTANICAL sriiVKY OF DISMAL SWAMP RKGION. 



It is normally saturated with water, which hero lias a reaction more 

 decidedly acid than in the parts of the swamp thai arc covered with 



deciduous forest. 'IN* this quality is undoubtedly due its marked pre- 

 servative properties. Juniper peat, when exposed to the air, assumes 

 a tough, stringy consistency, and rapidly cakes and hums under the 

 influence of the hot summer sun. Consequently, while land reclaimed 

 from the deciduous or black gum forest is of great, agricultural value, 

 that which has supported a growth of juniper is almost worthless. 



PlQ. HO.— Forest of "junipor" (Chamaccyparis thyoidts) oil tho margin of tho l>ism;il S\v;m 



The Chamaecyparis trees now standing in (he parts of the Dismal 

 Swamp visited are mostly li to '.) meters (i'i) to 30 feet) high and 3 deci- 

 meters (1 foot) or less in diameter. Here and there, however, occur 

 fine trees which arcs 20 meters (70 feet) or so high and 1 meter (over 

 3 feet) in diameter (tig. SI). Juniper logs 6 meters (20 feet) long and 

 "squaring" !» decimeters (3 feet) are said to be still obtained within 

 the confines of tho Great Dismal. The contracted, spire-like shape 

 of the juniper is in striking contrast to that of other trees of the 



