i9'7l GANO— ECOLOGY OF FLORIDA 341 



Of the Lafayette derivation, the Orangeburg fine sandy loam 

 and the Norfolk fine sandy loam are the most extensive, and repre- 

 sent 2 types found only within the coastal plain of southeastern 

 United States (i). The former is distributed chiefly in 2 belts 

 across the Gulf Coast states and also west of the Mississippi River, 

 constituting the higher lands. The Norfolk fine sandy loam extends 



)rthern Florida and west to Texas. In topog- 



from Virg 



similar 



are considered the most important for general agriculture, forming 

 the greater part of the so-called "clay hammock lands " (13), 

 characterized by a telling percentage of clay in their subsoils and 

 esteemed for their fertility. The subsoil of the Orangeburg gives 

 the designation of "red hills" so commonly used in descriptions 

 of southern Georgia and of northern Florida, for the freshly cut 

 or eroded subsoil is a bright red sandy clay. The subsoil of the 

 Norfolk is a yellow sandy clay or clay loam. 



Of the sedimentary deposits, the Norfolk sand covers the largest 

 area, being the most widely distributed soil of the coastal plain 

 from New Jersey southward (1). It is characterized by low ele- 

 vation and generally level surface from the immediate shore line 

 inland. 



Corresponding, then, with the 2 general topographic divisions 

 there are 2 general soil divisions, that of the more elevated regions 

 having clayey subsoil, while the rest is nearly pure sand. 





Vegetation in relation to physiography 



UPLANDS 



Clay hammock lands 



In the study of the upland on these soils, there are few evidences 

 of primeval forests, but it is easy to follow recent reforestation and 

 thus to gain an idea of the succession under present conditions. 



The methods of agriculture as long practiced in these regions 

 soon exhausted the soil and led to clearing of fresh tracts. The 

 use of these for a few years and their abandonment and return to 

 forest afford object lessons of all stages of second growth. Also on 



