THE NEW JERSEY PINE BARRENS 



249 



pan several feet below the surface. This 

 corresponds to the Ortstein fouiul in 

 German heathland, where similarly the 

 trees are dwarfed because the tap roots 

 are unable to penetrate this strongly 

 impervious layer of soil. The trees 

 reach a certain size, then die back, to 

 be replaced later by seedlings which go 

 through the same course of develop- 

 ment. Occasionally, where the hard- 

 pan is not continuous, a few taller pine 

 trees are found. On the plains of Xew 

 Jersey, the dwarf pitch pines assume a 

 basket-like form and so does the broom 

 crowberry (Core ma Conradii), a plant 

 found nowhere else in the state. ^ 



In the seasonal aspects of the Pine 

 Barrens we miss the familiar spring 

 flowers, such as the wood anemones, 

 sjiring beauties, bloodroots, rue anem- 

 ones, violets, and hepaticas, which in 

 deciduous forests flower before the 

 leaves of the trees appear. In the Pine 

 Barrens, the dark green color of the 

 prevailing pines is enlivened in the 

 spring only by the light greens of the 

 developing oaks and deciduous shrubs. 

 Autumn, however, is sometimes a riot 

 of color — as it was last October. 



The cedar swamps form an inii)or- 

 tant part of the vegetation of South 

 Jersey, and also a noticeable feature, 

 l)ecause the sky line is everywhere cut 

 by the spire-shaped tops of the trees. 

 The white cedar trees (Chamcpci/paris 



' The region, oiitside of its botanic aspects, pre- 

 sents mucli of interest. A study of the place names 

 shows that the white cedar tree lias been used in 

 designating a number of geographic features, as: 

 Cedar Brook and Cedar Grove. Next to the cedar, 

 the white oak has been used, as in White Oak 

 Bottom and White Oak Branch. Indian names 

 linger in Manahawkin. Manuniuskin, and Sha- 

 mong. A number of geographic features are desig- 

 nated by well-known articles of human use. Such 

 are Apple Pie Hill, Bread and Cheese Run, 

 Breeches Branch, Cabin Branch, Calico, Feather- 

 bed Brook, One Hundred Dollar Bridge; and 

 some have a personal flavor, as Comical Corner, 

 Double Trouble, Friendship Bog, Good Luck, Hos- 

 pitality Branch, Mary Ann Furnace, Mount Mis- 

 ery, and the like. Among the names are many 

 recognized as e.\otic in origin, such as Chatsworth, 

 Chesilhurst, Lakehurst, and Penbryn. 



tlnjoide^) are evergreen, and grow so 

 closely together that they form a dense 

 shade in which only the most shade- 

 loving plants will grow. Three facts 

 are noteworthy about a cedar swamp. 

 In the first place, a white cedar forest 

 is protective, as far as the movements 

 of air are concerned. The wind may 

 l)e blowing hard outside, but within the 

 cedar grove all is calm and still, so that 

 the few deciduous trees there may hold 

 their leaves until the advent of spring. 

 Secondly, a cedar swamp in summer is 

 cooler than the surrounding pine for- 

 est, on account of the dense shade and 

 the evaporation of water from the bog 

 moss, or s])hagnum, which holds the 

 water as a sponge and gives it off dur- 

 ing the hot weather. Thirdly, a cedar 

 swamp in winter is warmer than the 

 adjoining pine forest through which 

 the wintry winds can blow, and thus^ 

 during the inclement periods of the 

 year, the cedar grove forms a covert for 

 many birds and wild animals. Asso- 

 ciated with the white cedar and capable 

 of growing in the shade are red maple, 

 magnolia, sour gum, laurel, swamp 

 azalea, leatherleaf, sweet pepper bush, 

 and high-bush blueberries. In some 

 cedar groves Ave find the curly grass 

 fern (Schizcpa pusilla). 



The deciduous swamps which are 

 found along the slow-moving streams 

 may have succeeded white cedar 

 .'iwamps on the removal of the valuable 

 evergreen trees for lumber, and the 

 trees and slii-ul)s of such swamps are 

 those whieli. held in subjection beneath 

 the shade of the cedar trees, have 

 sprung to matui'ity with the stimulus 

 of the increased sunlight. Many times, 

 however, the deciduous swamp has been 

 in undisturbed ])Ossession of a stream 

 valley from time immemorial. Open 

 pools in the swampy areas are covered 

 with white water lilies, golden clubs. 



