— io8— 



what are called corduroy, and you can imagine how 

 smooth they are. The drive from Cutler to our destina- 

 tion was a decidedly rough one, but still not devoid of 

 interest, as we occasionally explored some small ham- 

 mocks on the way, but found nothing of special interest. 

 Our destination was the last new homestead in Southeast 

 Florida, north of Cape Sable. Our plan was to get to 

 our grounds the first day, and be prepared to make an 

 early start the next morning. I was very fortunate in 

 securing the services of a gentleman in Miami, a nursery- 

 man, and who, by the way, is a man after my own heart ; 

 not a botanist, but an enthusiast like myself. He had 

 been over the ground in December or January previous, 

 with Mr. Oakes Ames and a Mr. Eaton. 



To those not familiar with these regions, it might be 

 well to explain what hammocks are. They vary so much 

 in character that a general description must suffice. Most 

 of them seem to be spots where nature in past ages has 

 been more lavish in depositing soil, and as a result of 

 climatic conditions vegetation has taken hold and from 

 year to year has added to this deposit of virgin soil, re- 

 sulting finally in a dense jungle growth of live oaks, 

 gumbo-limbo, immense lianas, vines and shrubbery, the 

 ground generally being covered with ferns, Tillandsia, 

 etc. The larger trees are also covered with Tillandsias, 

 ferns, and orchids, mostly Epidendrums. Most of these 

 jungles are so dense that it was necessary to cut our way 

 through with a Cuban machette, which my friend Mr. J. 

 Soar used most skillfully. The southermost hammocks 

 we visited are exceedingly rocky, and will hardly ever 

 pay for their clearing out. The rock is a carbonate of 

 lime formation, and taken as one large mass, very much 

 resembles an immense flat sponge. The rock is perfo- 

 rated with what are called pot holes, in size from six 

 inches in diameter to ten or fifteen feet, mostly about 

 four to six feet, varying in depth from four to fifteen 

 feet. The larger ones very much resemble a nicely built 

 up well, whose walls are quite perpendicular. Some are 



