338 BOTAMCAL GAZETTE [may 



various plant associations belonging to the different geological 

 divisions of the coastal region of that state, comparing the flora in 

 its relationships with adjoining regions and with the West Indies 

 and Mexico. More recently, Harper has contributed numerous 

 publications containing ecological data, as the result of extensive 

 observations and explorations in various parts of the coastal plain, j 



his most complete works being a phytogeographic study of the 

 Altamaha grit formation of Georgia (5), and publications in the 

 reports of the State Geological Survey of Florida (6, 7). 



The area described in this study is included mainly in Leon 

 County, Florida. This county is situated half-way between the 

 east and west boundaries of the northern part of the state, bordering 

 the Georgia line and distant about 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. 

 The area is approximately 675 square miles, and as a whole is 

 located immediately west of the 84th meridian and between 30 







and 31 north latitude. 



The topography is diversified, and a soil survey (14) of this 

 county locates and describes 12 soil types (including meadow and 

 swamp) , of which the most extensive are those also common to the 

 coastal plain from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas. 



This section of Florida has had a varied history, dating back to 

 early Indian tribes and the first Spanish explorers. According to 

 narratives of De Soto's followers, the fame of this country as the 

 "land of plenty" extended to eastern and central Florida, and 

 made it a desirable place to seek for possession and settlement. 

 During the several hundred years of history chronicling invasions 

 and resettlement, therefore, successive clearings of the forest, from 



the more fertile soils at least, must have been made. About the 

 time of the establishment of the capital at Tallahassee (1823) near 

 the center of the county, Williams (15) described " abundant 

 groves of oak, hickory, beech, and magnolia crowning the hills and 

 covering their slopes." Such early pictures are of interest now in 

 considering the upland forests. 



Physical features 



Climate. — Weather records have been kept at Tallahassee since 

 1885 (3). The mean summer temperature averages 79? 7, autumn 





i 



