FIELD AND FOREST. 3 



Noble trunks of cypress, Taxodium distichum here and there shoot 

 up to a height of 70 or 80 feet, Cupressus thyoides, known at the north 

 as White Cedar, but here as Juniper furnishes an abundant supply of 

 railroad ties, which are brought out along the canal in ''skiffs " sixty 

 long and five wide propelled by " darkeys" with long poles. Among 

 other trees met with were Ulmcts alata, Salix nigra, Aralia spinosa, 

 twenty feet high, Ilex Cassine, furnishing the " Yupon Tea," Nyssa 

 uniflora, and multiflora. 



Proserpinacra pahtstis, was found in shallow water and Saururus 

 cernuus in great abundance, with other aquatic plants, as yet imma- 

 ture, Woodwardia arigustifolia was abundant in the woods. All these 

 trees and the thickets were completely overrun with Smilax lawrifolia, 

 its last years berries still green. Gelsemium sempervirens, a little past 

 its prime, but beautiful in its coloring, aud delicious in perfume, Big- 

 nonia capreolata, with its great masses of almost crimson flowers, 

 Smilax walteri, it light red berries having outlasted the winter, £. 

 glanca, Rhus Toxi-codendron, Vitis cordifolia, Ampelopsis quinquefolia. 

 Less abundant and conspicuous were Berchemia volubilis, and Decum- 

 aeia barbara. 



Among shrubs were found Itea virginiea, Symplocos tinetoria, Ilex 

 glabra, varying from two feet to fifteen, Andromed^nitida, Leucothoe 

 racemosa Clethra alnifolia, Andromeda ligustrina and leucothoe axil- 

 laris. 



Two nights were spent in the swamps, sleeping close by the waters 

 edge, but with no evil influences of malaria, and no trouble from in- 

 sects. Crossing the Lake in our "dugout," we go down the "feeder," 

 and come out upon the main "Dismal Swamp Canal," where we dis- 

 miss our boatman, and take steamer for Norfolk. Several interest- 

 ing phenomena attracted our attention. The Jericho Canal, where 

 we embarked is about 15 feet above the Nansemond River, and runs 

 nearly South ten miles to Lake Drommond. 



For the first five miles we had a strong current against us, then 

 came a mile or two of slack water,, with no current, and then the cur- 

 rent was with us running very strongly into the Lake. The water is 

 of the color of dark brandy, with a pleasant resinous flavor, becoming 

 quite bitter in the form about the locks. 



It is very saponaceus, will readily remove grease without the aid of 

 soap, and frequently fills the lock full of white foam it is claimed to 



