DISINTEGRATING INFLUENCES OF TROPICAL PLANTS. I3I 



Several grasses, two or three species of small ferns, and many 

 other plants are to be seen helping in this work of destruction, 

 and here and there a small tree may be observed widening the 

 small crevice which gives it a foothold. The leveling influence 

 of the vegetation upon these fortifications is very evident to the 

 most casual observer. Here, practically unaided by any other 

 influence than the vandalism of the tourist, the tropical vegeta- 

 tion is slowly but surely obliterating the pride of Spain's militarv 

 rule in the western hemisphere, that last outpost against modern 

 progress, the key to the west. 



Phenological Records for 1905. — During the past year phe- 

 nological records were kept showing the dates of certain stages 

 in the development of vegetation in New York State. The for- 

 est trees showed first leaves about oVIay 3d to 5th, and the woods 

 were generally green by May 14th. The leaves began coloring 

 September i6th, and began falling from October 4th to 21st, 

 according to the kind of tree. The woods were generally bare 

 by Xovember 5th. Of the five principal fruit trees in the State, 

 viz., apple, peach, pear, plum, and cherry, the apple showed first 

 leaves earliest, ]\Iay 3d, and the plum latest, May 6th. The peach 

 bloomed earliest, first bloom showing ]\Iay 5th and being in full 

 bloom by May loth ; then followed the. plum, the cherry, the 

 pear, and last the apple, which bloomed May i6th to 23d. The 

 period of harvest for the cherry was June 29th to July i6th ; for 

 the peach, July 26th to October 5th ; for the plum, September 3d 

 to 20th ; for the pear, September 4th to October 5th, and for the 

 apple, September 15th to October 25th. — Climate and Crops: 

 A'czv York Section. Jan.. IQ06. 



