THE FOREST AS A SOIL-FORMER 49 
nial home. Southern oceans are dotted with little 
islands, fringed with green mangrove swamps, high 
A SWAMP FOREST ALONG THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER IN FLORIDA. 
above which tower the coconut-palms. The establish- 
ment of the coconut means the possibility of human 
habitation. So many and varied are the products 
of the coconut-tree that, with the fruits of the sea, 
sufficient food material is afforded for the subsist- 
4 
