166 



HORTICULTURE 



August 7, 1909 



the fruit line tlian any other point, although there are 

 many other places equally valuable in that state. 



The slopes and valleys were covered with an abundance 

 of Bull Pine (Pinus scopulorum) in an early day before 

 the forests gave way to garden and field. The Western 

 Larch (Larix occidentalis) was abundant on the slopes 

 and has furnished much lumber; up the valley and on 

 the mountain sides the Douglas Fir, the Western Hem- 

 lock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Red Cedar of Washing- 

 ton (Thuja plicata) become more abundant. The moun- 

 tain sides are covered with great masses of the Spiraea 

 Aruncus (Aruncus vulgaris) with ample panicles of 

 white flowers, a most desirable plant to cultivate in gar- 

 dens. 



The mighty forests of Douglas Fir, Cedar, Hemlock, 

 Larch (Larix Lyalii) and Spruce have long since been 

 removed in the vicinity of Portland, but everywhere a 

 vigorous young growth of the various conifers is appear- 

 ing. Only a short distance from Portland one may still 

 see some of the giants of the forest, at Creighton, a 

 suburb of Portland. A few mighty firs and cedars are 

 abundant in the valleys, and at Vancouver, across the 

 river from Portland several of these monarchs occur on 

 the grounds of the military reservation. The woods 

 about Portland are interesting. Though it be in the 

 summer, during the dry season, there is a vigor to the 

 vegetation not seen in our eastern forests. I was shown 

 a field of Douglas Fir which thirty years before had 



Mr. Thcimas Howell, 

 Pioneer and Oregon Botanist. 



been in an oat field. The young trees were 60 and 70 

 feet high and many of them were 20 inches in diameter. 

 One is astonished to see how quickly the forest species 

 occupy the vacant soil, when left to itself. Some of the 

 enterprising horticulturists have made experiments with 

 various eastern species. The European trees usually doi 

 veiy well ; there are splendid orchards of sweet cherries, 

 apples, and pears. Our eastern Shag-bark Hickory and 

 the White Oak, however, make only a very slow growth. 

 The Redwood of California (Sequoia sempervwens) is 

 perfectly hardy. The Giant Redwood (S. gigantea) is 

 ♦also hardy. The Libocedrus decurrens and the White 

 Cedar ( Chamaecyparis Nootkaensis and C. Lawsoniana) 

 also succeed. Splendid specimens occur near Portland, 

 One is interested in the deciduous trees and shrubs 

 found here. The Western Dogwood (Cornus Nuttallii) 

 with its large white bracts, surrounding small flowers 

 crowded in a loose head, and its bright and shiny leaves 

 is abundant everywhere. The Madrone (Arbutus Men- 

 ziesU) a small tree with exfoliating bark and the White 

 Oak (Quercus Garryarm) and Ash {Fmxinus Oregana) 

 were common in rocky places. The swales are lined 

 with the Western Wild Apple (Pyrus rivularis) and the 

 mBdergrowth contains an abundance of Beaked Hazel 

 (Corylus Calif ornica) the wood of which is used for 

 making rustic chairs and other furniture. The Spiraea 

 Douglasii, well-known in cultivation, as well as the S. 

 lucida, is common in woods throughout the region. I 

 enjoyed a small outing to Creighton, near Portland. 

 The small village is easily reached by an electric line and 

 a short walk will take one to the woods, the deep re- 

 cesses with their firs and cedar. At this point Mr. 

 Thomas Howell lives. This farmer botanist is the 

 author of a Flora of Northwest Americ^i. He has en- 

 riched science by a large number of new species of 

 plants. I spent a pleasant afternoon with him. In 

 conversation with him I learned that he is a self-made 

 man. His school advantages were very meager but in 

 his desire to become familiar with the plants of Oregon 

 specimens were sent to Dr. Asa Gray of Harvard Uni- 

 versity from whom he received his inspiration to ex- 

 plore the botany of the region. He has sent plants to 

 every institution of note in thia country and abroad. 



One should not fail to make a trip to the coast down 

 the Columbia to Astoria and the vicinity. Astoria is 

 famous because it was here that Lewis and Clarke spent 

 their winter on their exploring expedition ; and later it 

 became a trading post. Not much of the glory of the 

 great forests remains about Astoria. Taking the rail- 

 way we pass the various small stations ; the names of 

 one or two remind us, of the Lewis and Clarke expedi- 

 tion. The point where the exploring party made their 

 salt is pointed out to us. 



There is Tilamook Head, Ft. Clatsop and other famil- 

 iar names of this expedition. It will be remembered 

 that Lewis and Clarke named their fort Ft. Clatsop. 

 Fruit trees seem to do well. I saw many apple and 

 pear trees. The atmosphere is so heavily laden with 

 moisture most of the year that the trees become covered 

 with lichens. Everywhere along the coast the Scotch 

 Broom {Cytlsus scoporiiis) has become naturalized. 

 The region about the mouth of the Columbia, known as 

 the Tilamook Country, has become famous as a dairy 

 country and should prove a fine country for vegetables 

 and fruit. The low meadows are rich in grasses like 

 Cheat (Bromus Pacificus and B. HooTcerianus), meadow 

 grasses like Poa nwirnntha and P. confinis, and common 

 Blue Grass (P. pratcnsis) which has become naturalized 

 everywhere. The Velvet Grass (Holms lanatus) grows 



