140 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 
tion of the soil. On the east coast, which is exposed almost constantly 
to stiff winds from the eastward, no coconut groves occur, and almost 
the only tree found growing near the waters edge is the Polynesian 
ironwood, Casuarina equisetifolia. At a short distance from the 
beach, however, in places more sheltered from the wind, fine coconuts 
are produced, Bananas, plantains, eggplants, peanuts, garden vegeta- 
bles, and several kinds of fruit trees are grown by the natives along the 
beach, and great breadfruit trees and mangoes are also found growing 
in what appears to be nearly pure sand. Near Agaiia great stretches 
of sandy beach are covered with beds of seaside daffodils (Paneratium 
fittorale), and the outer strand is carpeted with the goats-foot convol- 
vulus (/pomoea pes-caprac) and several leguminous plants. These 
must all contribute humus to the soil and serve to increase its fertility. 
Marsues.—Marshes of suflicient elevation to admit of drainage are 
planted in rice. Where the water is stagnant and the soil is sour rice 
“an not be grown. Several attempts have been made to cultivate the 
large swamp, or ‘‘ciénaga,” near Agata, but they have not as yet 
proved successful. This swamp is but a foot or two above the level 
of high tide. It was once a lagoon and from its general level a few 
hillocks rise like islands, which are covered with coconuts and shrub- 
bery. Patches of the ciénaga are cleared each year of the reeds which 
cover it (Trichoon) and are planted in taro, and in a number of places 
along the margin are groves of cocoanuts. Near Matan-hanom, at the 
upper end of the ciénaga are small plantations of cacao and thrifty 
whaki, or ‘manila hemp” plants. The latter grow without care and 
are not utilized. Swamp land is plowed with the aid of buffaloes. It 
is divided by low mud banks into fields of moderate size. It contains 
considerable organic matter from the rice stalks, which are turned 
under after the crop has been harvested. 
In the southern portion of the island there are a number of low, 
damp tracts of land at the mouths of streams. The soil covering them 
is deep and black, and has evidently been deposited by slowly-flowing 
currents. Where this land has been allowed to lie idle it becomes 
solidified like adobe, and in the dry season is crossed in every direc- 
tion by deep cracks. Such an area may be scen in a tract on the west 
side of the Maso River, near Tepungan, which was formerly the prop- 
erty of the Sociedad Agricola de la Concepeion. With proper irriga- 
tion there is no reason why it should not be made to yield good returns, 
Other low-lying tracts are planted in sugar cane, but this industry has 
nearly died out in Guam. Fine tillable tracts lie near the mouths 
of the Asan, Sasa, Laguas, Aguada, Guatali, and Atantano rivers, 
and on the east side of the island near Inalahan. 
INTERIOR VALLEYS.—In low-lying interior valleys, sheltered from 
the winds which constantly sweep the island, are a number of fertile 
tracts, On the east side of the island the valley of the Talofété River 
