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the primeval hammock, and the trail running through it is flanked 
by cultivated fields, planted in various truck-crops, and hundreds 
of acres in extent. The original hammock was mostly made up 
of pond-apple (Annona), and all except the higher parts were 
swampy. Here and there, as is shown by the remains of the 
n 
masses with the plants set so thickly that all other vegetation 
is excluded. This shrub bears flowers and large clusters of pur- 
ple-black fruits all the year round. 
Several conspicuous vines grow throughout : jungle. The 
two with more showy flowers are the Carolina-aster (Aster caro- 
linianus) and a tropical hemp-weed (Afikania meer a e 
vines often occur together, sometimes inti intertwined 
he flowers of the p-weed violet-scented ir fra- 
grance fills the air for long distances. An aaa vine appar- 
ently confined to the Okeechobee region is a gou Whether 
this is a native plant or one introduced by the Indians many 
years ago, have not yet been able to learn. It is a high- 
climber, has large yellow flowers and produces great quantities 
of globose fruits about the size of a baseba 1, The fruits are 
eral feet of decayed vegetable matter oa covers a sub- 
stratum of sand. In this “peat,” not only do the native plants 
thrive, but cultivated crops may be grown without the aid of 
fertilizer; while weeds, and escapes from forage-crops and flower- 
gardens grow with exceptional luxuriance. 
e next transferred our activities to the eastern side of Lake 
The beac the hammock behind it furnished extensive col- 
lecting grou This hammock abounds in interesting plants 
a t associations. It is a mingling place for tropical and 
temperate vegetation. Typically tropical ferns and orchids and 
various shrubs and trees grow intimately intermixed with spe- 
