86 RESOURCES OF SOUTHERN ALABAMA. 



Sagittaria lancifolia 



Osmunda regalis (A fern) 



Saururus cernuus Lizard's tail 



Vigna luteola 



Cicuta Curtissii 



Eupatorium purpureum 



Scirpus virens 



Scirpus Eriophorum 



Dryopteris Thelypteris...(A fern) 



Mikania scandens 



Eryngium Virginianum? 



Mesosphaerum rugosum 



Onoclea sensibilis (A fern) 



Triadenum petiolatum 



Commelina hirtella 



Boehmeria cylindrica 



Panicum gymnocarpon (A grass) 



Many of the trees, especially the black gum, have rather 

 crooked trunks, presumably indicating slow growth. The 

 herbs are chiefly confined to the marshes. Farther upstream 

 the conditions doubtless approach those of ordinary alluvial 

 swamps, with larger and straighter trees representing 

 more species, and more vines and fewer shrubs and herbs. 

 The cypress and some of the other trees furnish the basis 

 for a considerable lumber industry, which bids fair to con- 

 tinue a long time, for most of the area seems unsuited for 

 any other purpose than growing timber. A bung factory 

 near Tensaw, a veneer mill near Stockton, and several large 

 sawmills on the outskirts of Mobile, get their timber supply 

 from this delta. 



POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE. 



The ancient river-bottom farms of Baldwin County have 

 been mentioned already, and considerable additional infor- 

 mation about them can be found in the soil survey of that 

 county, mainly under the head of "Ocklocknee clay." Much 

 of the land formerly cultivated toward the head of the delta 

 is said to have been abandoned, however. There has never 

 been any population worth mentioning, for the owners of 

 the alluvial farms lived on the neighboring uplands. Hal's 

 Lake, near the head of the delta in Clarke County, is said 

 to have been the refuge for a time of a small band of fugi- 

 tive slaves. In addition to cultivating some of the bottoms, 

 farmers can reap a little additional profit from the delta by 

 letting their hogs range the swamps in search of acorns, 

 etc. 



