42 BOTANICAL BULLETIN. 



From the disintegration of these various rocks we would naturally expect to 

 find a soil containing? in a small rano-e the necessary conditions for a marked and 

 characteristic flora. Nor are we disappointed in this, since the flora of this range 

 is one of the most distinct and interesting in the state. Plants are found growing 

 here whose range is much farther south. These hills are justly ranked as being 

 among the flnest fruit growing regions of the west, i^ossessing good exposure and 

 being remarkably free from frosts, whicli, in the valleys below, prevent the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of such luxuries. Throughout this whole region we find ex- 

 tensive and productive peach orchards, returning to their owners an almost cer- 

 tain crop. Everything goes to show that for a long time "these knobs have been 

 protected by their peculiar structure from the effects of sudden "cold snaps," for 

 on such high knolls, chestnut trees three to four feet in diameter are growing, 

 vigorous and fruitful. These trees cannot bear fruit, can hardly live in the cold 

 tempeiature of the valleys." In the fifth annual report of the Indiana State Geo- 

 logical Survey the following species are given as representing the most important 

 timber of these hills in Clarke and Floyd counties: Quercus monticola, Q. alha, Q. 

 rubra, Q. thictoria. Q. obtuslfolia, Finns mitis, Carya amara, C. alba, Conuis florida, 

 Liriodendron TuUpifera, Acer rubrarn, Nyssa mnltiflora and Bhug aromutica. This 

 list could doubtless be much increased Avere a careful study given to the subject. 

 Especially in the oaks would this be true, the hills giving the exact conditions for 

 Q. iUclfolia and (^. falcuta. 



The Ericads are few and far between over the most of Indiana and, in fact, 

 over tiie whole of this great intei-ior basin. But these hills seem to supply the 

 exact conditions necessary for their growth. We find Vacciniuni stamineuvi, V. 

 vacillans, Epigoia repens, Oxijdendnun arboreum, Kalmia latifolia, K. antjiistifolia, sev- 

 eral species of Pt/rula, Chimaphila maculata and umbellata, Monotropa nniflora and 

 Hypopitijs, and several otliers tliat I do not recall. Agave Virginica is found in 

 considerable abundance, and /;•(*■ cristata and veriia. Among the Liliaceous plants 

 are found several Trilliums, Medeola Virginica, Melanthium Virginicum, Stenanthium 

 angustifulium, Amianthium muscoitoxicnm, ChamoiUrium Inteum, Prosartes lanuginosa, 

 and several others. A collection of plants from the knobs has just been received 

 but not studied. The species given above are those that caught my eye in a very 

 cursory examination. Careful study will doubtless reveal many plants more in- 

 teresting than anj' mentioned and disclose a flora of small range, around which 

 can be drawn sharp and well defined boundary lines. 



The Forest Trees of Cass County, Ind. — The character of the soil in this 

 county, as we might expect, gives, to a certain extent, character to its forests. 

 Originally low and swampy, when redeemed by drainage the soil is found to be a 

 rich black loam. Instead of the great preponderance of Beech {Fagus ferruginea, 

 Ait.\ to be observed in the southern counties of the state, we find the Querci to be 

 the most abundant. From a somewhat hurried examination of the forests, I should 

 say that the diff"erent species of this genus comprised at least 50 per cent, of the 

 entire forests; Fagus ferruginea, Ait., about 10 i)er cent. ; Black Walnut (Jw^Zajis 

 nigra, L.» about 10 per cent.; Shag-bark Hickory (.Carya alba. Nutt.), and the Tu- 

 lip-tree {Liriodendron TuUpifera, L.), each about 5 per cent., the remainder being 

 made up in greater or less quantities of tlie ordinary forest trees of the west. The 

 oaks, excelling so largely in numbers, constitute of course the chief point of inter- 

 est in the study of the forests. I have noted of this genus the following sjiecies: 

 Q. alba. L., Q. bicolor, Willd., Q. Prinus., L., var. acuminata, Mx., Q. coccinea, Wang., 

 Q. rubra, L., and Q. palustris, Du Roi. I think also that I have found Q. ilicifolia, 

 Wang., although of this I am not certain, as according to Gray it grows in sandy 

 barrens and rocky hills. These conditions are certainly lacking in tliis county, 

 and yet I have a specimen that looks strangely like Q. ilicifolia. I was somewhat 

 surprised to find Q.falcata, Mchx. missing, although perhaps the character of the 



