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ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA. 



This region, although belonging strictly to the 

 coastal plain geologically, has a good deal in common 

 with the hill country in its vegetation. Some of its trees 

 are more characteristic of one section and some of the 

 other; and it seems to have a greater variety of trees 

 than any other region into which the state is here di- 

 vided. There are at least 17 kinds of oak, though some 

 of them are rather rare here. About 44 7f of the trees in 

 the original forests were evergreen; which is a higher 

 percentage than we have found anywhere in the hill 

 country (except in the Blue Ridge), though rather low 

 for the coastal plain. 



Density of population, etc. — In 1910 the short-leaf pine 

 belt had about 30 inhabitants to the square mile, an in- 

 crease of 22 7o in the ten years preceding. Just about 

 75% of the inhabitants are white. The region is still 

 pretty well wooded, probably to the extent of about 75% 

 of its area. Cattle had free range in nearly all parts up- 

 to within a few years, but now the stock law is in force 

 in several counties and beats. 



Forest utilization. — Although the pines have been cut 

 a good deal for lumber, the commoner short-leaf (Piniis 

 Taeda) has probably more than held its own, on account 

 of its propensity for spreading in old fields and other 



