54 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Most remarkable of all is the absence of any leguminosce, though the fami- 

 ly contains 6,500 species and is the second in size only to the compositce. 



The number of biennials given in this list is remarkably small, and there 

 are no annuals in it. In this list is a thistle and two species of erigeron 

 which seed freely and the wind aids in sowing the seeds. The evening prim- 

 rose seeds abundantly and often on these plains grows in a globular form, a 

 foot to two and one-half feet in diameter. When ripe it loosens its hold on 

 the soil and becomes a ''tumbleweeil," rolling for considerable distances be- 

 fore the wind and scattering its seeds on the way. 



In like manner, I might lengthen this paper by showing the special adap- 

 tation of each of these plants in the above list to survive the severe tests 

 applied to it on these sandy plains. 



Of this list of seventy species, sixty-eight are perennials and four are 

 biennials. 



The perennials are mostly persistent plants well adapted by long deep roots 

 and rootstocks to live in poor soil, which is subject to severe drouths. Most 

 of them are admirably adapted to surviving, after a severe fire has burned 

 over the ground and killed the tops of the plants. 



A CONTRAST OF THE TWO SIDES OF THE PENINSULA. 



On the west side next to Lake Michigan, the country studied was at Frank- 

 fort and vicinity in Benzie county and east of there. 



Besides Ilarrisville on the east shore, some time has been given to studying- 

 the flora at the mouth of the Au Sable river, about fifteen miles south of Har- 

 risville. 



The prevailing winds on both sides of the lake are from the west and south- 

 west. In each case the country slopes gently toward the lake to which it is 

 adjacent. It has been long known that the climate of the west shore where 

 the wind sweeps across Lake Micliigao was milder in winter, and throughout 

 the year less variable than it is on the east side of the state. This is not oaly 

 evideat by a test of thermometers on the two shores, but tender fruits and 

 some other plants thrive better on the west shore than on the east. So far as 

 obsiTved, the pilants of the state which are only found in the vicinity of the 

 great lakes are most abundant in individuals on the west shore. 



The prevalent west winds produce the shifting sand dunes which are some- 

 times 200 feet high and favorable for the shore-plants. The lake is gradu- 

 ally washing down and carrying away the land on the west shore. On the 

 east side of the state the shore is generally lower and there are no sand dunes 

 worthy of the name. At the mouth of the Au Sable river above and below, 

 along the lake for many miles, there are low ridges of sand five to ten feet 

 or more above the lake. The sand is washed ashore by the lake. These 

 ridges are two to eiglit rods wide and separated by a lagoon about as wide as 

 the ridge. 'I'he ridges in some places look as though some company had 

 graded a track for a new railroad. These ridges parallel with the lake shore 

 south of Oscoda up to thirty in number can easily be counted. The last 

 ridge now forming is already much wider than any of tlie others, and is partial- 

 ly composed of immense quantities of timber which has floated down the 

 streams in connection with the lumber traffic. This timber is composed of 

 rough logs, stumps, limbs, and refuse from saw mills. If one knew when the 

 lumb< ring began along the Au Sable river, he could readily estimate the rate 

 at which the last terrace is forming. 



