56 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 1. 



to require mention. One frequently sees their castings at 

 Kodiak voided on the ash surface. From the character of the 

 castings it would appear that the worms are confining their 

 activity to a large extent to the ash itself, but even so, their 

 action will serve to bury increasing quantities of vegetable 

 debris. And where they bring up the old soil from beneath, 

 they will thoroughly mix ash and soil till the ash layer becomes 

 hardly recognizable. 



Of succession it is too early to speak or even to make pre- 

 dictions. Within five years, however, some indications may be 

 expected which will give a clue to the future course of events. 



ALPINE HEATH ON THE MOUNTAINS BEGINNING TO 



REAPPEAR. 



Not directly connected with the problem in hand, but yet 

 one of the results of the eruption, is the opportunity afforded 

 by the devastation of the mountain tops to study the stages in 

 the re-establishment of the alpine heath. The prostrate alpine 

 plants occupying the summits had no capacity of sending up 

 shoots through the ash layer, but were effectually buried beneath 

 it. Long after the lower slopes were green with tall grass, 

 which had come through the ash, the mountain tops remained 

 gray wastes. 



But such exposed situations were naturally the first to be 

 cleared of ash by erosion, leaving large areas of the original 

 surface with the soil in exactly the same condition as before the 

 eruption. Doubtless a large proportion of the old roots 

 remained alive as in lower altitudes, but the sand blast about 

 the summits was so much more severe than at lower levels, 

 that over considerable areas all of the antecedent vegetation 

 was destroyed. These areas, therefore, give an unparalleled 

 opportunity to study the process of the establishment of the 

 Alpine heath, which association at Kodiak is very similar to 

 that occupying the tops of high mountains generally. 



The first stages in the revegetation of these summits have, 

 already appeared. On some of the mountains, new grasses 

 have sprung up, apparently from seed, which almost cover the 

 ground to the exclusion of other plants, forming in places a real 

 turf. The most important of these are Festuca {ovina) brachy- 

 phylla, the vernal fascies, and Agrostis hiemalis var., the autum- 

 nal fascies. (See page 27). In other places, the dwarf Alpine 



