30 FIRST BOOK OF FORESTRY 



In swamps like the Chessahowiska of western Florida, 

 where a warm climate and a supply of lime in the water- 

 soaked earth assist the plants in withstanding the diffi- 

 culties of too much water, the forest is often one of great 

 variety, consisting of a mixture of red cedar, oak, bass- 

 wood, yellow poplar, and ash, together with palm and 

 yucca, and the trees display a considerable degree of thrift. 



These facts lead us to believe that wet soils, like dry 

 soils, tend to reduce the number of kinds of trees, and that 

 this effect is greater wherever a cold climate adds to the 

 difficulty. It also indicates that in colder countries the 

 monotonous woods of the swamp lands are simpler in 

 their make-up, and stunted in their growth; but that the 

 swamp forests of warmer districts do not generally share 

 this stunted character, since, for instance, the cypress of 

 the southern swamps is among the largest timber of the 

 eastern half of our country. 



In the Puget Sound country, where it rains the greater 

 part of the year, and where clouds, fog, and mist shut out 

 the sun and prevent the trees from giving off much water 

 from their leaves and twigs, we find some of the densest, 

 stateliest forests of the world. They are composed of 

 red fir, hemlock, cedar, and balsam ; the trees grow rapidly 

 and reach unusual size. A well-drained, porous soil and 

 a very moist, cool atmosphere are evidently conducive to 

 the best tree growth. But even here it is rather remark- 

 able that the conifers prevail. 



