56 
cypress will grow in high, dry ground; but its natural habitat is 
in swamps. It thrives and flourishes under conditions which 
would be fatal to most other trees, with the roots permanently 
immersed and often with the base of the trunk entirely surrounded 
by water. Splendid examples are to be seen on the shores of 
‘Lake Drummond, where they constitute almost the sole feature 
of the outer zone of the lake border vegetation. Many individual 
trees, isolated from their fellows, grow well out in the lake, con- 
stituting one of its most striking features. 
The water of the swamp is dark-colored, but clear, resembling 
strong tea, and has an acid reaction and remarkable antiseptic 
properties. It is palatable and wholesome and keeps wonderfully 
well, without becoming foul. In former years it was much 
used on ships, especially on those about to make long voyages. 
That from the white cedar areas, known as “juniper-water,”’ 
was considered the best. Even where the ground is saturated, 
and the water stagnant, there is an entire absence of the odors 
which are generally noticeable in salt marshes and in many fresh 
water swamps where there is abundant decaying vegetation. 
ArtTHuR HOLLIcK. 
THE SUCCULENT PLANT COLLECTIONS. 
The succulent plant collections are now located in houses 5, 6, 
7, and 8, of range 1. They were formerly crowded into houses 
5 and 6, but on the completion last summer of the new houses at 
range 2, the contents of 7 and 8 were transferred there, making 
more room available for the succulent collections. This in- 
creased space has made possible a much better display of these 
interesting collections of desert plants. 
n the west side-bench of house no. 5 are the carrion-flowers, 
Stapelia, belonging to the milkweed family, and the South 
frican liliaceous genera, Haworthia, Apicra, and Gasteria. Fol- 
lowing these are members of the purslane family and the fig- 
marigolds, Mesembryanthemum, with the thistle family, repre- 
sented by such genera as Senecio and Kleinia, at the extreme end 
of the bench. The easterly side-bench holds a part of the large 
collection of the orpine family, the remainder of it being on the 
