72 PRACTICAL FORESTRY 
plant, and in other places it endures other adverse 
conditions of many kinds. Although its distribution 
is more or less dependent upon birds which scatter its 
seeds, it is due mainly to the wonderful ability of 
the species to adapt itself to a great variety of condi- 
tions. The rate of growth and the quality of wood 
vary accordingly. It is, however, in the moist, warm, 
fertile districts of the Mississippi bottom-land, and in 
Florida, where it reaches its optimum. The bald- 
cypress is classed as a true hydrophyte, or water-plant. 
Although it does not endure much cold, it is a beauti- 
ful shade tree in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, on 
the upland. Its northernmost natural range is along 
the Pocomoke River in Maryland. It has endured 
considerable drought on our southern prairies in 
Texas. Although it endures these diversities of en- 
vironment, it grows best in rich, warm, moist, but 
well-drained sandy soil. The simple fact that a tree 
grows naturally in the greatest abundance in certain 
localities is no indication that it will not grow as well, 
if not better, elsewhere. 
The day is past when we should concern ourselves 
exclusively with the species of our own country, in 
spite of their abundance and great variety. We 
should search the world for those species of the great- 
est value, which will grow to the best advantage in 
various parts of this country. In this way every 
