SCHOPF AMERICAN TRAVELS. 



stems trailed along the ground, the tops very little raised above the 

 sand, but with comely, upright-standing leaves. From every old root 

 there sprouted may stems running in various directions, and striking 

 out fresh roots. Whole fields were covered with this growth. Here 

 and there appeared a few upstanding trunks, of the thickness of a 

 man's leg ; from the leaf, these seemed to be the same as the rest ; 

 but there being no blooms at this time, no precise determination could 

 be made. 



Near to the town there were to be seen a few trees of the fan-palm 

 variety (Borassns flabcllifer L.) The cabbage-tree or cabbage-palm 

 (Areca olcracea L.) is likewise at home here, but about the town 

 there are few of them left. They had been cut down to get the cab- 

 bage, the undeveloped, tender, white leaves at the top of the tree. This 

 sort of palm grows tall. The edible part is brought into the town by 

 negroes and sold at 6 pence to i shilling sterling. 



In this southern region spring really begins hardly before the mid- 

 dle of March. A few trees and shrubs begin then to show leaves ; the 

 evergreen oaks, the cassio-berry, and other winter-green plants let 

 fall at this time their last year's, but still green leaves, since the new 

 are then developing. 



In the woods and swampy places there were blooming at the time, 

 among smaller plants : Orontium aquaticum, Drosera rotundifolia, 

 Hypoxis erecta, Viola lanceolata, palmata, and primulifolia, Rhexia 

 virginica, Hydrocotyle umbellata, Utricularia subulata and gibba, etc. 

 All plants which are found as well in the provinces to the north, where 

 however, they come out much later. Acorus calamus was plentiful 

 in the swamps but not yet in bloom. On drier, sandy soils, and pro- 

 tected by palm-bush or garden fences were found blooming : Jatropha 

 urens, Houstonia caerulea, Cistus canadensis, Veronica marilandica, 

 Rhexia marilandica, Plantago virginica. Lobelia inflata. Antirrhinum 

 canadense, Tradescantia virginica, Commelina communis, Oxalis 

 stricta, Veronica serpillifolia. Verbena Aubletia, Argemone mexicana, 

 Salvia urticifolia. 



Among the smaller bush near the town several varieties of the spe- 

 cies Andromeda, Vaccinium, the Myrica cerifera, Bignonia semper- 

 virens, Rubus hispidus, Mespilus arbutifolia, etc., were beginning to 

 develop blooms or were already blooming. 



Prunus lusitanica, which is very common here, showed sporadic 

 masculine and hybridous blooms. Xanthoxylum Clava Herculis grows 

 here to strong, high trees. Ilex Cassine, Olea americana. Magnolia 

 grand iflora, and other trees seen in Carolina, are more numerous here. 

 Cactus Tuna is everywhere to be found. 



In place of other fences about gardens and fields, the palmetto 

 {Yucca gloriosa) is made use of here; the tops being cut oft" and set 

 out along little ridges of earth take root easily and rapidly, grow tall 



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