12. LIME-SINK REGION. 109 



difference between this region and that next to be de- 

 scribed is that here some comparatively level areas are 

 bordered by low hills, while in the next, on leaving a 

 plain, other than a river-terrace or flood-plain, one always 

 goes down hill. 



Climate. — No accurate climatic data from this part of 

 the state seem to be available yet. Its temperature 

 doubtless does not differ essentially from the average be- 

 tween the regions on either side of it, and, the summers 

 are evidently somewhat wetter than the winters. 



Forest types. — The greater part of this region was 

 originally covered with an open forest of long-leaf pine, 

 carpeted with wire-grass and other narrow-leaved 

 herbs, from which this region derives its popular name 

 of "wire-grass country." A person standing in the midst 

 of a primeval forest of this type can usually see just 

 about a quarter of a mile in every direction. The shal- 

 low depressions rarely contain open sheets of water, but 

 are usually full of cypress, slash pine, black gum, may- 

 haw, or yaupon, or two or more of these trees together. 

 Where the water in these depressions is never more than 

 a few inches deep and the vegetation is dense and com- 

 posed mostly of bay, tyty, or other evergreen small trees 

 or large shrubs, they are called bays. (Bays seem to be 

 commonest in the southern part of Covington County 

 and neighboring parts of Florida.) The streams are 

 nearly everywhere bordered by swamps, and the lime- 

 stone outcrops usually have a rich hammock vegetation. 



Fire is frequent here, as in all other long-leaf pine re- 

 gions, but it rarely invades the bays, swamps, or ham- 

 mocks. 



LIST OF TREES. 



