THE MOUNTAIN WOODLANDS. 



21 



constant humidity, high altitudes, and stiff clay soils; the other a region 

 of dry calcareous soils, seasonal aridity, and low altitude. The tran- 

 sition between these vegetal zones is very abrupt and immediately 

 noticeable as soon as one passes from one of these regions to the other. 

 It is true that the rainfall is less on the south coast and the country in 

 general more arid, but there is also an immense difference in the capac- 

 ity of the two geologic soils for retaining moisture and for root penetra- 

 tion, the clay soils being always saturated, while the limestones are 

 porous and dry. 



THE MOUNTAIN FLORA. 



The climate of Porto Pico, although in general warm and humid, has 

 a milder temperature and a greater constancy of moisture on the high- 

 lands than in the lowlands, while upon the latter there are occasional 



Fig. 6.— South coast undergrowth, 



ountains iu distance. 



periods of drought. Accordingly, the mountains are constantly clad 

 with fresh green verdure (consisting of such remnants of the primitive 

 flora as have escaped the destruction of man) and cultivated trees, 

 while the flora of the border region has at times a dry and yellow aspect. 



THE MOUNTAIN WOODLANDS. 



The general growth of the mountain region consists of deciduous 

 trees of many species, freely intermingled with shrub and grass, and 

 above 1,000 feet with tree ferns. In some places the undergrow T th is 

 made up largely of ferns of numerous species, many of which are so 

 tall and dense of growth as to constitute a veritable jungle. (See fig. 6.) 



Much of the mountain landscape is now occupied by cultivated crops 

 of coffee, tobacco, fruit trees, shrubs, etc., broken by verdant pastures 

 of tall Para and Guinea grass, which constitute the staple forage of 

 the island. There are many large cultivated shrubs and bushes, attain- 

 ing the size of a peach tree, which give an aspect of primeval wildness 



