5292 THE FLORA OF THE DISMAL SWAMP: 
reveals nothing of special interest, Viola cucullata and primulæ- 
Jolia being the only species noticed. The suburbs of Norfolk 
abound with pride of China (Melia azedarach), still retaining its 
whitish drupes, three or four species of magnolia and other dis- 
tinctively southern trees, while Yucca gloriosa flourishes most 
thriftily on heaps of garden rubbish. 
The next morning a little steamer received us for our trip, up 
the Elizabeth River, through the Dismal Swamp Canal, and down 
the Pasquotank River, to Elizabeth City, N. C., forty miles in all. 
The swamp region is of indefinite extent, being estimated at 
from six hundred to one thousand square miles, thirty miles or 
more from north to south, and twenty or more, from east to 
west. Much of it has been cleared and partly drained, here and 
there a clearing of several hundred acres meeting the eye, said to 
be capable of producing fifty bushels of shelled corn to the acre, 
while at rare intervals appear neat, white and inviting mansions. 
It seems originally to have been heavily wooded. The cypress 
(Taxodium distichum), juniper (Juniperus Virginiana), tulip tree 
(Liriodendron tulipifera), and the sweet and sour gums (Liquidam- 
bar Styraciflua and Nyssa uniflora and aquatica), are abundant 
and attain a large size. 
. Most of the large trees, however, have been cut off, or have 
fallen victims to the frequent fires, several of which were raging 
uring our visit, and lighted up the horizon at night; often by 
these fires, the peaty soil for miles is burned to the depth of four 
or five feet; the hollow thus formed soon fills with water, and ever 
after retains a truly “dismal” appearance. But, for the most part, 
the swamp exhibits almost tropical luxuriance, the true canebrake 
almost forbidding passage. The foliage at this season is largely 
evergreen, the maples being only partially in leaf and the cypress 
but beginning to put forth its delicate leaflets. Ilex glabra, ink- 
berry, or, as it is called there, gall-berry, is the most abundant 
shrub, especially along the watercourses, occurring, from two to 
ten feet in height, its black berries contrasting finely with its 
glossy leaves. The sweet bay (Magnolia glauca), the holly 
Send opaca), often with its scarlet berries, the great laurel (Rho- 
ndron maximum), and perhaps loblolly bay (Gordonia Lasi- 
anthus), are very abundant; while climbing high over all is the 
 - Smilax laurifolia, with its large, stout, evergreen leaves, appearing 
-~ as if pinnately compound, and lower down the green-brier (S. 
