142 FLORA. OF OAK ISLAND. 



ing dance stands and " flying horses" has been established 

 on the easterly portion of the larger section of the island, 

 and not only is the pleasant seclusion^ of the place inter- 

 fered with, but at no distant day this interesting and his- 

 toric botanical station will become for botanists a memory 

 of the past. Mr. Young observes that the smaller de- 

 tached portion of the island is more elevated and dryer 

 than the larger portion, and that it possesses a somewhat 

 different flora. 



The wood upon the island has been cut from time to 

 time, the last general cutting having been made perhaps 

 not long after the Eastern Railway was built in 1837. 

 The growth of timl)er now on the island is of deciduous- 

 leaved trees, and consists chiefly of oaks, basswood, 

 hickory and sassafras, the only coniferous tree being the 

 red cedar (Junipems Virginiana) which is represented 

 by a few scattered specimens. 



The soil is a vegetable humus on sand and gravel, up- 

 on which the plants thrive in moist seasons with great 

 luxuriance. 



The island is also a favorable locality for the collection 

 of land snails and has been well known to botanists and 

 conchologists for many years. 



The whole number of plants noted in Mr. Young's list 

 which includes the phanerogams, ferns and mosses, is 

 three hundred and sixty-two, divided among the different 

 families as follows : 



Note. — Mr. C. E. Faxon and Geo. E. Davenport have kindly looked 

 over Mr. Young's list and the collection of specimens which he has 

 preserved, and add the following as the only species which they have 

 noticed on or near the island not included. Ranunculus Cymbalaria, 

 Pursh ; Ranunculus sceleratus, L. ; Sagina procumbens, L. Along the 

 railroad track between Revere station and Oak Island near the last 

 bridge k^G. E. D.). Cynoglossum Morisonl, DC. On the island(C. E. F.). 



