The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-06-22
.Ghe lrmnrrat-S STIR
How the Cypress Converts Lakes
Into Forests.
Garden and Forest.

AhNhO - @FNpE
-
Garden and Forest.
The natural processes by whIcl
the earth we inhablt is torn dowr
or built up are extremely interest
ing subjects Of study. The com.
paratIve facilities for natural drain
age determine more surely thar
any other agency what the future
cond ton Of any territory will be
In billy and mountainous countries
the depresSionS would gain by sur
lace wash what the elevations lose
but for. the innumerable water
courses that are continually carry
ing that wash to the sea. Where,
however, the surface Is nearly level
and the water courses have but
slight fall, The depressions receive
nearly the entire wash occasioned
by rainfall and the principal &C.
oessiou from the growth and decay
of vegetation.
The cypress has a very broad
base, which taperS rapidly into the
man trunk. This is a characters
tic Of other trees found in like sit
uatiOnS, notably the tupelo NySSd
aniforG) the swamp gum (NySSd
GquaticaJ, the swamp ash (Frdri-
nus pldtycarpaJ, and the swamp
Privel (FOreStiera acamiaataJ. The
cypre, S is provided with additional
means OF maintaining its equlli-
brium. Where the situation taVors
a large growth Cthe cypress some
times measures ten feet IN diane
ter as many feet from the ground),
thin buttreSses spread out from the
base in all directions. This feature
lends 10 a great cypress swamp an
almost labyrinthine appearance,
especially in dry seasons, when the
bases Of the trees are left bare.
The cypress has also a system Of
strong surface roots, by the inter
locking of which neighborlng trees
give each other support.
The surface roots of the cypress
have The peculiar habit of giving
out ex~crescences, which rise sever
al feet from the surface, in the
form of domes, turrets and arch
ives, or in wrapping other objects
with a vine-like growth. These
e~xcrescenceS commonly called
knees-are Hollow and of spOngy
texture, and their growth hastens
the lime when The localities they
now occupy will become too ele-
waited to suit such forms of vegeta-
ton.
In the shallow lakes and ponds
that abound in the low pine woods
of the South the cypress does most
efectual work as u land-builder.
terminating OF a miry margin or
shOal spot, in a aso Of low wa
ter, The young tree becomes estab-
lished, sends out lis raft of roots TO
support its Splndling top, and as
it grows pushes upward knees,
which serve TO detaIn floating sub
stances, and to give support to such
objects as are in condition for
growth. In a dry Season, which
may last for a year. or more-a rank
growth of sub-aqualic plants
springs up. This dies down IN the
fall and the leaves and dead twigs
of the cypress are added TO the
matted heritage, which each spring
offers better support for a succeed
in growth.
This process of vegetation pro-
crossing around a shallow lake
finally converts it INTO a winter or
dry weather pond. During heavy
falls of rain soil is washed in from
the surrounding slopes. AS fast as
spots become untitled for water
loving plants other species take
their place. If surrounded by pine
woods seeds of lowland pines be-
gin to spring up nearer and nearer
the centre Of the pond, and the
long leaved pines make a heavy
deposit on the surface each year.
II near hummOck, the BAYS, mag
noiias, oaks, etc, may take posses
sion. Thus, by continual wearing
down and building up, through
such natural agencies, there is a
constant approach to Uniformity of
surface. A marked change must
take place during a century ; a still
greater change during a thousand
years. This process is continually
going on, and the bald cypress has
played an important part iu fitting
The low country of the South for
mans use.