5i 



the spring. The sycamore is not common in Hartsville, but 

 occurs sparingly along streams and on edges of swamps. A num- 

 ber may be seen where the road crosses the creek swamp near the 

 paper mill. Harper, in the article mentioned below, says of this 

 tree that in the pine-barrens of the Carolinas it seems to be con- 

 fined to the banks of the muddy rivers, just as in Georgia. In 

 Hartsville it is found along clear streams. 



Choke Cherry (Primus serotina Ehrh.). 



A small tree with smooth reddish bark that peels of easily. The 

 leaves are oblong and closely toothed, and they may be distin- 

 guished from all others by the dense tuft of reddish hairs along 

 the midrib below near the base of the blade. The fruit is a long 

 bunch of nearly black and astringent little cherries. This tree 

 is a frequent one with us, especially along ditches and fence rows. 



Old Field of Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia Mai'sh.). 



This plum is hardly deserving of being called a tree, as it rarely 

 ever reaches twelve feet in height, but we will give it the benefit 

 of the doubt. It forms thickets on edges of fields and clearings 

 and is valued for its fruits. The good sized plums may be either 

 red or yellow and are very good to eat. It was probably intro- 

 duced from farther west. 



Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) 



This well known tree may be said to be rare in our section, but 

 there are a good many of them on the ditch bank west of the 

 Upper Farm Place. The strong thorns on the trunk and 

 branches, the large, twice compound leaves and the long, flat 

 pods make the tree quite easy to recognize at sight. 



Redbud or Judas Tree (Cercis canadensis L.). 



We are almost out of the range of this tree, and so far we have 

 found but one wild plant near Hartsville. It was growing in a 

 low place in the sand hills about a half mile north of Crowley's 

 Spring. At Darlington and at Society Hill it is not uncommon. 

 The deep green shining leaves are broader than long and heart- 

 shaped at base. The flowers are pinkish purple and are placed 

 abundantly in clusters directly on the trunk and limbs. They are 

 shaped like those of a pea. and this indicates the relationship of 

 the tree. It belongs to the great Leguminous family, as does also 

 the honey locust and the cultivated silk-flower tree (see page 61). 



