The Flora of the Adirondacks. 79 



field for botanical research. Climbing from the border of 

 Lake Placid on the west side, or ascending by the more 

 easy path cut by John Hickock on the east, even the 

 unscientific observer will be struck with two important 

 characteristics ; first, the gradual change in the classes 

 of vegetation ; and second, the apparent change of seasons. 

 We are passing rapidly from the flora of the temperate 

 zone to that of the frigid, and from the full development 

 of summer, or the ripe perfection of autumn to the buds 

 and blossoms of spring time. The change is first ob- 

 served in the trees. As we wait at the foot of the moun- 

 tain or commence the ascent, we see about us familiar 

 trees; the beech and maple, birch and bass, spruce and 

 hemlock, with many stumps showing where the wood- 

 man has reaped his harvest of pine ; but ascending, the 

 deciduous trees gradually give place to the evergreens. 

 The broad-leafed maples and birches are replaced by arbor 

 vitas and spruces. At length the broad leaves are all 

 gone, and only the evergreens surround us. The trees 

 are closer and smaller. It is an almost impenetrable 

 forest, even where our path leads us upward ; but now, 

 balsams are thinly interspersed among the spruces, and 

 soon there are as many of the former as of the latter. Still 

 higher, the spruces and cedars are scattering, but the 

 balsams cover the precipitous sides with matted green. 

 At length the spruces are all gone, only the balsams 

 remain. They grow smaller and smaller. The straight 

 and symmetrical tree becomes a stunted, crooked stalk 

 with straggling branches. In the battle for its life the ele- 

 ments have the advantage. The tree is dwarfed and 

 dwindles to an unsightly shrub, then to a weak and 

 almost prostrate vine, and then disappears ; but we have 

 not reached the top. One little tree is braver than its 

 comrades, and challenges the bleak winds, even on the 

 summit. It is the mountain ash. No longer a beautiful 



