33 



When the swamp was cleared in preparation for the lake it was 

 decided as an experiment to leave several very large cypress trees 

 in the deeper part near the dam and test the effect of the altered 

 conditions. Standing in about twelve feet of water they con- 

 tinued to live for three or four years, but got weaker all the time 

 and at last gave up the struggle. In the upper end of the lake a 

 considerable section of the swamp was left uncut, and although 

 the depth there is only about five or six feet, the results have been 

 the same so far as the larger trees are concerned. The small 

 cypress trees have for some reason shown greater adaptability, 

 and many of them are left in apparently good health. They grow 

 very slowly, but bear fruit abundantly. The only plants of the 

 original growth that have remained alive with their roots under 

 five feet or more of water are cypress, red maple (Acer caro- 

 linianum), myrtle (Cyrilla racemifiora), storax (Styrax ameri- 

 cana), bamboo briar (Smilax lauri folia), and Walter's smilax 

 (Smilax Walteri). 



In Plate XI is shown this part of the lake. The large dead 

 cypresses are seen in the background, and a number of small live 

 ones are seen in the front. Most of the small cypresses are shoots 

 from the cut stumps of old ones. In the middle foreground is a 

 large bush of alder (Alnus rugosa), growing on a stump. The 

 mossy-looking growth hanging from the tops of some of the dead 

 trees in the lichen Usnea barbata. 



The stumps, floating logs and standing dead trees support a 

 large population of shrubs and herbs. The dead cypress shown 

 in Plate XII has a dense collar of shrubs and young trees sur- 

 rounding it at water level. Here are growing Carolina red maple 

 (Acer carolinianum) , juniper (Chamaecy parts thyoides), fetter 

 bush (Lyonia nitida), myrtle (Cyrilla racemiflora) , sweet pepper 

 bush (Clethra alnifolia), Zenobia pulverulenta and Lyonia ligus- 

 trina var. foliosiflora. These plants were all rooted to the decay- 

 ing bark of the cypress, five and a half feet above the lake bottom. 



Some of the floating logs carry such a profusion of gay flowers 

 as to look like miniature gardens. On one of these I have noted 

 the following: juniper (C hamaecyparis thyoides), Carolina red 

 maple (Acer carolinianum), alder (Alnus rugosa), fetter bush 

 (Lyonia nitida), Zenobia pulverulenta, Leucothoe racemosa, 

 myrtle (Cyrilla racemniflora) , Hypericum verginicum, Hyper- 

 icum canadense, sundew (Drosera intermedia), Utricularia 

 juncea, Xyris caroliniana, and species of Rynchospora. 



