140 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



tion of the soil. On the east coast, which is exposed almost constantly 

 to stiff winds from the eastward, no coconut groves occur, and almost 

 the only tree found growing near the waters edge is the Polynesian 

 ironwood, Oasuarina eqidsetifolia. At a short distance from the 

 beach, however, in places more sheltered from the wind, fine coconuts 

 are produced. Bananas, plantains, eggplants, peanuts, garden vegeta- 

 bles, and several kinds of fruit trees are grown by the natives along the 

 beach, and great breadfruit trees and mangoes are also found growing 

 in what appears to be nearly pure sand. Near Agana great stretches 

 of sandy beach are covered with beds of seaside daffodils (Pancratium 

 littorale), and the outer strand is carpeted with the goats-foot convol- 

 vulus (Ipoiiwea pe8-caprae) and several leguminous plants. These 

 must all contribute humus to the soil and serve to increase its fertilit} T . 



MARSHES. Marshes of sufficient elevation to admit of drainage are 

 planted in rice. Where the water is stagnant and the soil is sour rice 

 can not be grown. Several attempts have been made to cultivate the 

 large swamp, or u cienaga," near Agaiia, but they have not as yet 

 proved successful. This swamp is but a foot or two above the level 

 of high tide. It was once a lagoon and from its general level a few 

 hillocks rise like islands, which are covered with coconuts and shrub- 

 bery. Patches of the cienaga are cleared each year of the reeds which 

 cover it (Trichoon) and are planted in taro, and in a number of places 

 along the margin are groves of cocoanuts. Near Matan-hanom, at the 

 upper end of the cienaga are small plantations of cacao and thrifty 

 abaka, or "manila hemp" plants. The latter grow without care and 

 are not utilized. Swamp land is plowed with the aid of buffaloes. It 

 is divided b} 7 low mud banks into fields of moderate size. It contains 

 considerable organic matter from the rice stalks, which are turned 

 under after the crop has been harvested. 



In the southern portion of the island there are a number of low, 

 damp tracts of land at the mouths of streams. The soil covering them 

 is deep and black, and has evidently been deposited by slowly-flowing 

 currents. Where this land has been allowed to lie idle it becomes 

 solidified like adobe, and in the dry season is crossed in every direc- 

 tion by deep cracks. Such an area may be seen in a tract on the west 

 side of the Maso River, near Tepungan, which was formerly the prop- 

 erty of the Sociedad Agricola de la Concepcion. With proper irriga- 

 tion there is no reason why it should not be made to yield good returns. 

 Other low-lying tracts are planted in sugar cane, but this industry has 

 nearly died out in Guam. Fine tillable tracts lie near the mouths 

 of the Asan, Sasa, Laguas, Aguada, Guatali, and Atantano rivers, 

 and on the east side of the island near Inalahan. 



INTERIOR VALLEYS. In low-lying interior valleys, sheltered from 

 the winds which constantly sweep the island, are a number of fertile 

 tracts. On the east side of the island the valley of the Talofofo River 



