354 Harper: COASTAL PLAIN OF THE CAROLINAS 
tation of the Virginia-Carolina coastal plain is practically unde- 
scribed, except for the vicinity of Dismal Swamp, and two or three 
spots on the seacoast farther south. The geology of the region 
is also by no means as well known as one might wish, chiefly 
because of the scarcity of rock outcrops and the lack of diversity 
in the topography, as compared with the corresponding portions 
of the Gulf States. 
NARRATIVE 
With a view of gaining some knowledge of the region in 
question at first-hand, I made it a point on the way from Alabama to 
New York in July, 1906, to travel through the coastal plain most 
of the way, and to see as much of it as possible in the few days at 
my disposal. My principal objects in taking such a roundabout 
route were: first, to ascertain whether the Altamaha Grit forma- 
tion, which I had just been studying in Georgia,* extended beyond 
the Savannah River into South Carolina; second, to see if the 
ranges of certain plants followed geological belts approximately 
parallel to the coast, as so many do in Georgia and Alabama ; 
and third, to discover the northeastern limits of as many coastal 
plain species as possible, and the reasons therefor. What success 
was attained in solving these and other problems which presented 
themselves will appear in the following pages. 
From the time I entered South Carolina by crossing the Savan- 
nah River a few miles below Augusta, until I reached Richmond 
on the banks of the James, five days later, I traveled entirely in 
the coastal plain, by daylight, and over railroads which were new 
to me (except the first and last 25 miles or so), so that new facts 
were gathered on nearly every mile of the journey. Every species 
recognizable from the car-window was noted as many times as 
possible (except in the case of a few of the commonest trees), and 
no botanizing was done on foot, except a very little near Charles- 
ton and Florence, S. C., and one afternoon on and near Wrights- 
ville Beach, N. C. 
Itinerary. — My itinerary through the three states was as fol- 
lows: From Augusta to Yemassee and Charleston on the afternoon 
of July 25th, from Y Sparlestan to dons S. C., the next aero 
# See Teaver t: 241- ees task oS 
