1899] Stone, — Floral conditions in central Massachusetts 145 
in central Massachusetts is considerable. There is, in fact, no tree 
which takes so readily to the old and neglected pastures, as does the 
pine, and they are gradually becoming filled with this species. This 
is a most fortunate occurrence, as these old pastures are practically 
worthless for other purposes, and it is by this means that the pine holds 
its own so readily, and compensates for that loss which occurs in con- 
sequence of rotation with hard wood where forests of this tree have been 
cleared. The chestnut propagates itself almost entirely by sprouts, hence 
the old term, *sprout lot." There is consequently no rotation which 
takes place in this species. The same old soil which produced chest- 
nut for centuries is producing it to-day, and apparently with the 
same vigor. It is interesting to note that each successive growth of 
chestnut always springs from the same old stump and root system ; 
from which it would appear that the same old root system, or at least 
offshoots of it, has been supporting chestnuts since the glacial period. 
In the clearing of so many of the clay hills in olden times the habitat 
of the chestnut was somewhat reduced, and notwithstanding the enor- 
mous quantity of seed produced every year by this tree, many of which 
escape the squirrel and small boy, comparatively few trees of this species 
originated from seed. The chestnut, therefore, is not so abundant as 
formerly, though it maintains a uniform distribution. 
The oak occurs with the chestnut and undoubtedly is as abundant as 
ever. This tree is placed third in the list, but in the old primitive 
forests, I am inclined to believe that the hemlock would fill this place. 
At the present time, however, it is a considerably rarer tree. No tree in 
central Massachusetts has fallen behind like the hemlock. When forests 
of this tree are cut one seldom finds a second growth of any pretension, 
and a third growth is even more rare. I believe it is within the bounds 
of accuracy to state that the hemlock has fallen off over eighty-five per 
cent. This is not from the lack of seed production, but from the fact 
that the seedlings do not find the proper conditions for thriving. It is 
a well-known fact that the hemlock seedling requires shade, and when 
forests of these trees are cut, they do not furnish the proper conditions 
for this development. As the hemlock, however, has decreased, the 
white birch and poplar have increased, but they, at present, possess 
little commercial value. In the old forests the conditions were such 
that they were more scattered, being confined to openings and to the 
borders of woods, but now they form large groups in themselves. 
The alder, ironwood, red maple and hazel, border the meadows and 
