REGION AT HEAD OF LAKE MICHIGAN. 151 



probable that nuts could have been dropped by the birds, but 

 why do we not find groves of Beeches or scattered specimens 

 farther south? The pigeons were plentiful everywhere at the 

 head of Lake Michigan in those days, and even many years later, 

 but there are no Beeches except what have been planted l)y man. 

 Another story has it that those trees were planted by the Indians, 

 and I am of the opinion that the Highland Park grove, and those 

 west of Waukegan, were planted by the Indians who frequented 

 these regions very much, and at Highland Park held council. 

 The trees stand close together in a small grove, and cannot be 

 compared with the natural groves north of the State line in 

 height or dimensions. I do not think any of them measure 

 twelve inches in diameter. 



The tree referred to farther south within a few miles of 

 Chicago is still smaller and more scrubby in growth, and after 

 forty years has attained a height of less than twenty feet, show- 

 ing that as we advance toward the head of the lake the Beech 

 becomes smaller and finally disappears. 



Referring to the yellow wood mentioned before, its exist- 

 ence is partly due to the fertile and well-drained Morain, and 

 partly to shelter toward the north and west. 



Considering the Glacial Drift in the lowlands, we must soon 

 come to the conclusion that this kind of heavy, poorly-drained 

 soil is not adapted for a great variety of trees and shrubs. These 

 lands have not been subject to oxidation for as long a period as 

 the JMorains, that have been above water long before the plains 

 arose above the surface of Lake Michigan. 



We have seen that the nearer we get to the head of Lake 

 Michigan the less possible it becomes for those specimens de- 

 scribed before to live, whether these are planted on the same 

 formation or not. So it is with the Beech and Tulip Tree, 

 native to this region, and many other species introduced ; and 

 why is this so? Study for a moment the map of the lands bor- 

 dering Lake Michigan, and consider that our hot winds come 

 from the southwest across the plains, and our cold winds from 

 the northwest, also across the plains. That these winds cross- 

 ing great land areas must be dry is evident. The farther we 

 move to the north on either side of Lake Michigan awa}' from 



