THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



175 



disturbed by the hand of man. It is truly remarkable that the City of 

 New York should include within its boundaries a primitive forest of 

 this size, and this invaluable feature is to be preserved forever by a spe- 

 cial contract between the Garden and the Department of Public Parks. 

 Since a hemlock forest is a climactic formation, and is not replaced by 

 any other growth unless cut down, it may be expected to endure through 

 the present geological epoch, barring the accidents of flood, storm and 

 fire. The great diversity of conditions offered by the natural features 

 of the Garden gives it a very rich population of indigenous plants. 

 A census of the ferns and seed-plants at the time the tract was con- 

 verted to its present purpose showed nearly a thousand species. 



The North Meadows. 



The entire area has been handled most sympathetically by those in 

 charge of the architectural features of the Garden. The buildings 

 were erected in the more open western part of the grounds, which 

 offered the least valuable landscape features, and the surface around 

 them has been improved by plantings. The natural beauties of the tract 

 have been most zealously guarded from disturbances of all kinds. The 

 attractive panoramas of wild woodland and stream offered to the artist 

 and lover of nature have been left absolutely untouched, but made 

 more valuable by increased ease and safety of access. 



A number of special biological groups of plants have been established 

 in suitable places in various parts of the Garden. The trees are in the 

 arboretum east of the Bronx on the side and summit of a long ridge; un- 



