FIELD AND FOREST. 3 1 



Alternating with these juniper swamps, and occupying consid- 

 erably more territory, are the so-called " gum- swamps," of which 

 the prevailing trees is the black or sour gum (Nyssa multiflora^) This 

 is, however, less exclusive than the "juniper," and with it are associ- 

 ated nearly all the other species above enumerated. These gum 

 swamps usually constitute majestic forests, the trees attaining a great 

 size and the foliage being dark and umbrageous. Tillandsia usneoides 

 sparingly on Nyssa and Taxodium, and Phoradendron flaves certs 

 seemed to have complete possession of the former of these trees ; it 

 was also observed on the maple. Polypodium incanum was common 

 on the elm, bur not being a parasite it did equally well on dead and 

 prostrate trunks. 



Lester F. Ward. 



Response to "Good Words." 



I have been awaiting for somebody to reply to " Good Words," in 

 Vol. II, page 202, and as the editor has had the kindness to " open the 

 ball," in the July number, (page 4,) with an excellent article on collect- 

 ing nets, I take the liberty of giving a description of some tools I use, 

 and hope other collectors will exchange views through Field and 

 Forest. My collecting net is one that I can guarantee will stand the 

 roughest usage. The rim is made from a part of an eight-day clock 

 spring, which I passed to and fro through a gas flame to draw out some 

 of the temper, then punched a quarter of an inch hole an inch from 

 each end. The diameter of the net is about fourteen inches, The 

 handle is of straight grained ash, about the size of an ordinary cane, 

 having a strong ferule on the end, and a piece of quarter inch round 

 iron with a thread cut on, and driven hard in the end, projecting half 

 an inch, then a small thumb-nut to fit it. The net is made from 

 common mosquito bar, with a strip of muslin around the top, made to 

 slide the spring in. The advantage of the spring is, when off of the 

 handle you can roll it up for the pocket with the net on, making about 

 the bulk of a pocket handkerchief. The handle I use for a cane, by 

 taking off the thumb-nut and screwing on an octangular one that will 

 cover the whole thread. I always carry a duplicate net, in case one 

 gets too badly torn to mend. 



