Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 74.djvu/610

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606
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY
Seasons Spring
(March-May)
Summer
(June-Aug.)
Autumn
(Sept.-Nov.)
Winter
(Dec.-Feb.)
Annual
Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) 68.4 81.6 69.3 52.3 67.9
Rainfall (inches) 10.0 19.5 9.8 10.7 50.0

Frost usually occurs in four or five months of every year, but snow is rare. The maximum temperature here, as nearly everywhere in the eastern United States outside of the mountains, is about 100°. It is noteworthy that nearly two fifths of the total annual rainfall comes in the three summer months, as seems to be the case all over the southern half of Georgia. August is the wettest month, with about 7 inches of rain, and November the driest, with a little less than 3. The total annual amount happens to be a little less than the average for either Georgia, Florida or Alabama.

Vegetation of the Swamp

The various aspects of different parts of Okefinokee Swamp seem to depend almost entirely on the distance of the sandy bottom

Bugaboo Island.

below or above the water level. Areas where the sand rises above the water constitute the islands. There are about half a dozen of these, Floyd's Billy's, Mitchell's, Black Jack, Honey and Bugaboo, with areas ranging from about one to ten square miles. The largest islands are naturally highest and driest, and are said to bear a fine growth of long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris), and perhaps some oaks and hickories. The only island which Mr. Ricker and the writer were able to reach (on account of the low stage of water prevailing at the time of our visit,