FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION'. 49 



The mountain south of Arkville shows a white, clean spot on the mountain 

 side, where lumbering lias just commenced for the neu' acid factory, which it is 

 expected will consume about 5,000 cords per year. The existing acid factories in 

 the Catskills will use about as much wood as will grow on 70,000 acres of well- 

 stocked forest. 



Fire has run over many of the hills time and again destroying the coniferous 

 growth, while the hardwoods have been able to withstand in some degree its 

 ravages. The hardwoods have now almost entire possession of the hills. They 

 reproduce themselves much more easily than the conifers, and will hold possession 

 unless softwood seedlings are planted, or the hardwoods thinned and conifer seeds 

 sown. 



To be sure, on the fiats at the base of the hills are to be found groves of white 

 pine (pumpkin pine). The trees seem to reproduce freely, especially wherever there 

 is mineral soil at the surface, and, if cared for, this species would no doubt continue 

 to be a feature of the valleys. But if it is ever again to occur in any considerable 

 quantity on the sides and tops of the mountain it must be planted. It is only with 

 very unusual and violent gusts of wind that the seeds are blown up the hill side. 

 Once planted, however, the trees when they bear fruit will scatter their seeds later- 

 ally and down the slope with ease. 



Then with the care of the forester, favoring the pine to the disadvantage of the 

 hardwoods, groves of this valuable species may again clothe the hill sides. And 

 what is true of the white pine in this respect is true also of the other conifers that 

 we have planted. 



A large number of the people who visit the Catskills come by tlie Ulster 

 and Delaware Railroad up the valley of the Esopus Creek from the Hudson 

 River to Phoenicia, where there i? a junction with the railroad extending into the 

 valley of the Schoharie. This place is literally in the heart of the Catskills. It 

 is situated at the foot of the westerly end of a lofty and irregular ridge, the 

 southerly slope of which is skirted by the Esopus Creek along which runs the 

 railroad, and a splendid improvetl State road, one of the finest rides in the State, 

 extending from Kingston about forty miles through the mountains. This ridge 

 is called Tremper mountain on the westerly end, and Timothyberg mountain on 

 the east end. A site was selected for a plantation upon the southerly slope of 

 the easterly end of Timotliyberg mountain. From this mountain has been taken 

 hemlock, basswood, chestnut and poplar, and it was lumbered for oak bark twenty- 

 five years ago. Fire burned over it in 18S1 and again in 1888, since which time 

 there has been no further burning. On the same lot, but on the north slope. 

 4 



