I 894- J PLANTS OF MONROE COUNTY. I43 



blackberries and raspberries. The mandrake is also mentioned. Butternut, 

 chestnut, beech, walnut, hemlock, basswood, black ash and oak composed the 

 primitive forest. Speaking of the forest near Oak Orchard creek, one of the 

 pioneers says : " The dense forest, composed of large, sturdy oaks, extended 

 as far as the eye could see, east and west, on the south side of the Ridge road. 

 On the north side the forest was still more dense, and was composed of a 

 greater variety of timber." 



1871. — The Tourist's Guide through the Empire Stcite. By Mrs. E. 

 S. Colt. Albany, 187 i. 

 The author gives a description of the " Big Tree", and the date when it 

 was swept away by a great flood, November, 1857. 



1873 — The Longevity of Trees. By Elias Lewis. Pop. Sc. Monthly, 

 Vol. Ill, July, 1873. 

 Speaking of noted trees, the writer says: "The Wadsworth Oak, at 

 Geneseo, New York, is said to be five centuries old, and 27 feet in circumfer- 

 ence at the base." 



1876. — A History of Livingston County, N. Y. By L. L. Doty. 

 Geneseo, 1876. 

 Reference is made to the elms and oaks on the banks of the Genesee 

 river ; to the dense forests and impassable marshes ; and to the wild fruits — 

 plums, grapes and cranberries. Quotes Col. Hubbard, describing the Genesee 

 flats as containing not less than 6,000 acres, not having a bush standing, but 

 filled with grass considerably higher than a man. Speaks of the "oak open- 

 ings" near Caledonia, and the great oak near Geneseo. 



1877. — Frontenac and New France under Louis XIV. By Francis 

 Parkinan. Boston, 1878. 



Describing the expedition of Denonville against the Senecas, he speaks 

 of the open forests of oaks, the tangled growth of beech trees, and the rank 

 grass, waist-deep, of the intervales. 



1877.— History of Monroe County, N. Y. By W. H. Mcintosh. 

 Contains many references to the early forest growth. 



1883, — A Catalogue of the Native and Naturalized Plants of the City 

 of Buffalo and Vicinity. By David F. Day. Buffalo, 1883. 

 Frequent mention is made of plants found in Rochester, Caledonia, 

 Bergen, etc. 



1884. — Rochester, a Story Historical. By Jane Marsh Parker. Roch- 

 ester, 1884. 



The author mentions oak, chestnut, hickory, black walnut and white- 

 wood as the most common trees in the primitive forest where the city of 

 Rochester now stands. Also mentions a grove of sycamores on an island in 

 the river, near the present dam, and an old sycamore tree which served as a 

 landmark to the helmsman in ferrying across the river. 



