126 Rhodora [Juny 
condition are characterized by beeches and Chamaecyparis which 
have spread from low-lying tracts; the latter tree is dominant in cer- 
tain swamps, as described by Shaw (l. c.). 
In order to test the application of principles of succession to the 
area in question it is necessary to know just which species have been 
planted artificially, and which have come in naturally. Accurate 
information has been obtained from Miss Sarah B. Fay and Mr. 
M. H. Walsh, who have witnessed many of the changes already 
described. Evidently the European forms were introduced, víz., 
Scotch and Austrian pines, larch, Norway spruce, English oak, 
sycamore maple, and the same is true of the older pitch and white 
pines, according to Mr. Fay’s manuscript. Some of the trees repre- 
sent the original planting, while others, e. g., the group of larch, have 
been set out to replace the defunct Scotch pines, while most of the 
young pines have sprung up from seed produced by the older trees. 
It has been ascertained that none of the oaks were planted, — a 
point of some significance. The beeches, hop hornbeam, tupelo, 
and all the shrubs have appeared naturally. Apparently most of 
the hickory has been planted, though the tree commonly occurs in 
sheltered places in the region. It appears then that this forest has 
by the aid of man quickly passed into and through the øżne stage, 
and is now in the early part of the oak stage. There are but few 
signs of its passing into the vak-hickory stage, much less of its being 
in the maple-beech stage, which is regarded by Cowles as the climatic 
climax forest of the region. Probably the climatic conditions are 
such that the area in question may never see this climatic climax, 
although in a moderately sheltered situation in the northeastern part 
of the adjacent island of Naushon there occurs a fine beech forest. 
The principal factor which has brought about the changes de- 
scribed seems to have been the short life of the Scotch pine; but 
why should its life be so much shorter in Massachusetts than in 
Scotland? It has been suggested that a borer is responsible; also 
that the soil “gave out ” in the planted areas, This view is nega- 
tived by the observation that young specimens show a vigorous 
growth in the immediate neighborhood of the old and dying trees. 
Probably some undetermined feature of the climate here renders the 
trees short lived. The salt-laden winds would naturally have more 
effect on the trees as they grew taller. This idea is borne out by 
Mr. Fay’s experiments in planting hickory trees, which were found to 
