Development of the Vegetation of New York State 145 
ence between this and the surrounding Adirondack country, 
from which both as to topography and vegetation cover it 
stands out as a unique feature — one of the points to be 
visited. 
Borings show from two to three feet of compact, fine sand 
evidently offering poor aeration. Below, the deposit is 
darker, coarser and full of coarser grit. The water table is 
normally several feet below the surface, but the area has the 
aspect of wet lowlands, and during a rainy season is in effect 
like an area of water soaked soils. But, as in other sand 
areas, it 1s subject to extremes of drouth. 
The vegetation reflects these conditions. It is not known 
whether ‘‘The Plains” were ever forested though quite 
likely they supported pine forest in an early day. At the 
present it is virtually a heath barren in process of being 
invaded by conifers, and strangely enough the dominant in- 
rading species is tamarack. Growth studies show that this 
invasion began some thirty years ago and that the tamarack 
has made a rapid and symmetrical growth. Black spruce has 
become established in certain spots and exhibits an inter- 
esting and vigorous phase of reproduction by layering. 
This tamarack invasion is closing in on all sides and has 
in considerable measure broken up the heath formation. But 
some scores of acres are open heath. The ground-cover 
shows patches of grassland, small shrub, large shrub and the 
invading forest. wo prominent grasses are wet land spe- 
cles, viz. purple wild oat (Avena Torreyt Nash), and moun- 
tain rice (Oryzopsis asperifolia Michx.). Numerous annuals 
are associated with these and scattered through the heath- 
shrub, notably composites; for example, Canadian golden 
rod (Solidago canadensis L.), swamp golden rod (S. wligi- 
nosta Nutt.) and tall flat-top, white aster (Doellingeria 
(Aster) umbellata (Mill.) Nees). Two species of ladies’- 
tresses orchid occur among the grasses and composites, thus 
further emphasizing the marsh-meadow character of the 
vegetation. 
The small shrub vegetation which, on the whole, is domin- 
ant, comprises Vaccinium canadense, angustifolium and 
