15- GULF HAMMOCK REGION. 309 



(willow), Ostrya, Betula (birch), Fagus (beech), several of the oaks, Lirioden- 

 dron (poplar), Prunus (plums and cherries), Gordonia, Cornus florida (dog- 

 wood). Oxydendrum (sourwood), and CHftonia (tyty). Most of these grow- 

 best in drier and more clayey soils than the average of the Gulf hammock- 

 region, but the absence of the last-named (and a few others) is probably best 

 explained by its aversion to lime. The genus Crataegus (haws) seems to 

 make up a larger proportion of the forests here than in most other parts of 

 Florida (between i and 2%), which accords with the common belief that 

 these little trees are partial to limestone regions. 



Most of the species which are more abundant here than elsewhere in 

 northern Florida grow in low hammocks and calcareous flatwoods. Some of 

 them are rather rare plants. For example, the Ambrosia which stands 

 27th in the list of herbs is known only in calcareous flatwoods within 

 a few miles of St. Mark's, and in a similar place near the southeastern 

 corner of Georgia (where it was found by the writer in 1902, in company 

 with Lippia, Elionurus, ^nd a few other species included in the above list). 

 Some species too scarce to be listed here are probably still more limited 

 in distribution. Very few weeds are abundant enough in this region to 

 be included among the first- 200 species, a natural consequence of the 

 sparse population. 



The percentage of evergreens is about 74.3, which is a little above the 

 average for northern Florida. The fact that this distinctly calcareous re- 

 gion has decidedly more evergreens than regions 4, 5, 11 and 13, where 

 limestone is not much in evidence, seems to indicate once more that there 

 is no close relation between calcium (or limestone) and evergreents. Lime- 

 stone probably ha<s some efifect on the Ericaceae (heath family) though, 

 for only 6.8% of the shrubs are of that family, and practically none of 

 these grow in calcareous flatwoods and low hammocks. The percentage of 

 Leguminosae among the herbs seems to be 5.8, which is also below the 

 average; the explanation probably being that few leguminous plants thrive 

 in damp soils. 



Economic Features — Agriculture is not yet very extensively 

 developed here. In 19 lo less than 5% of the area was cultivated, 

 and there were only about 7 inhabitants to the square mile — an in- 

 crease of 35% since 1900. (Most of this increase was in Taylor 

 County, which acquired several new railroads during the decade). 

 About 60% of the population is white. 



Lumbering and turpentining of the long-leaf and slash pines 

 are flourishing industries, and considerable cedar is cut for pencil- 

 wood near the coast. Large numbers of cattle graze in the pine 

 VN^oods all the year round, producing beef at very little expense to 

 their owners. 



The principal crops, judging from the returns from Taylor 

 County in the State census of 1905 (no crop statistics having been 

 received from the county in 1912), seem to be as follows: Corn, 

 sea-island cotton, peanuts, sugar-cane, sweet potatoes, oats, velvet 

 beans, upland cotton. 



