Notes on the forest conditions of Porto Rico . THE MOUNTAIN WOODLANDS. 21 constant humidity, high altitudes, and stiff clay soils; the other a regionof dry calcareous soils, seasonal aridity, and low altitude. The tran-sition between these vegetal zones is very abrupt and immediatelynoticeable as soon as one passes from one of these regions to the is true that the rainfall is less on the south coast and the country ingeneral 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 bei
Notes on the forest conditions of Porto Rico . THE MOUNTAIN WOODLANDS. 21 constant humidity, high altitudes, and stiff clay soils; the other a regionof dry calcareous soils, seasonal aridity, and low altitude. The tran-sition between these vegetal zones is very abrupt and immediatelynoticeable as soon as one passes from one of these regions to the is true that the rainfall is less on the south coast and the country ingeneral 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 areporous and dry. THE MOUNTAIN FLORA. The climate of Porto Pico, although in general warm and humid, hasa 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 cladwith fresh green verdure (consisting of such remnants of the primitiveflora 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 deciduoustrees of many species, freely intermingled with shrub and grass, andabove 1,000 feet with tree ferns. In some places the undergrowTth ismade up largely of ferns of numerous species, many of which are sotall and dense of growth as to constitute a veritable jungle. (See fig. 6.) Much of the mountain landscape is now occupied by cultivated cropsof coffee, tobacco, fruit trees, shrubs, etc., broken by verdant pasturesof tall Para and Guinea grass, which constitute the staple forage ofthe island. There are many large cultivated shrubs and bushes, attain-ing the size of a peac
Size: 1858px × 1345px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherwashingtondcdeptof
