ON THE FLORA OF VEKMONT. 67 



by a great development of the cork layer of the bark ; 

 the American Elm ( U. americana) , with its rounded top 

 and long sweeping branches, one of our noblest trees ; the 

 Hornbeam ( Caqnmis americana) , the Buttonwood or Syca- 

 more {Platanus occidentaUs) , and the many kinds of Wil- 

 lows and Poplar. These trees make up the greater part 

 of the vegetation that forms billowy lines of green along 

 the rivers or scattered over moist meadows. The under- 

 brush along the streams consists of the smaller Willows, 

 Alders, Witch Hazels, Hawthorns, Juneberry, Dogwood 

 and many shrubs and small trees. ISIany of these are 

 never, or very rarely, cultivated, and yet some of these 

 neglected ones would most richly repay care bestowed 

 upon them, for they are beautiful both in leaf and flower. 



On somewhat dryer soil grow the trees that form our 

 rich woods, especially upon the lower hillsides. Among 

 these the most common are the Sugar Maple {Acer sac- 

 charimim) , which is one of the largest of all ; the Beech, 

 the various Oaks and the difl'erent species of Ash and Birch, 

 with a sprinkling of Hickory, Pignut, Basswood, and 

 bordered with Butternut, Red Mulberry, Sassafras and oth- 

 ers less common. 



In the swamps the Larch or Hackmatack {Larix america- 

 na) is usually most abundant, Ijut with it the Hemlock, 

 Spruce and Balsam Fir are usually seen. The White or 

 Paper Birch {Betula papyracea), with one or two varieties 

 grows in all kinds of soil and situations, though some are 

 better suited to it than others. It is found occasionally 

 among the swamp trees and in the hill forest, and even 

 covers wide patches on the mountain sides, growing in 

 friendly nearness to the coniferous pines and spruces, and 

 sending now and then a straggler to the very top of some 

 of the highest summits. 



The species of small shrubs and herljs are very numer- 

 ous. From .the latter j^art of April when the southern 

 slopes are fragrant with the exquisite clusters of the Trail- 

 ing Arbutus or May Flower (Epigoia repenn), till late sum- 

 mer all the fields and woods ai'e profusely adorned with 



