IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
41 
where are large fragments of haematite, and of soft sand- 
stone deeply colored with iron. The clay itself is of a dark 
red tint. Simultaneously with the change of soil is an 
improvement in the character of the people and in the 
appearance of their homes, which indicate the greater fer- 
tility of the red soil. At the same time the character of 
the forest changes, and the pure Longleaf is succeeded by 
“ High Hammock ” Shortleaf pine mixed with hardwoods, 
on all the higher land, and the typical hardwood types on 
the lowlands. The last body of pure Longleaf pine of any 
size is in the southern part of San Augustine county. The 
species is found in a scattered and usually more or less 
stunted condition throughout Shelby and Nacogdoches 
counties. 
Ecologically considered, the vegetation of southeastern 
Texas may be divided into a number of types, as follows: 
I. PINE FLATS. 
To this type belongs most of the eastern half of Hardin 
county, much of Orange county and the southern half of 
Jasper and Newton counties. The leading species is the 
Longleaf pine, but a few Loblollies, Shortleafs, and hard- 
woods are occasionally present. The best Longleaf is grown 
on these low lands. In the typical Longleaf forest there is 
no underbrush of any description, and as the trees attain 
a height of a hundred to a hundred and thirty feet, and seldom 
branch under eighty or ninety feet the effect is very strik- 
ing. Unfortunately the best of these magnificent forests 
have already been destroyed and, if the present demand 
for yellow pine lumber continues, they will soon disappear 
utterly. 
