Development of the Vegetation of New York State 173 
rence (on beech, birches, pine, hemlock, ete.). In this case 
the fungus sympiont is supposed to play a role in making 
available for forest trees the non-available nitrogen of the 
still unreduced organic debris of forest soil (forest duff). 
The logical outcome of this relation would appear to be 
reached in such a ease as that of the waxy-white Indian pipe, 
whose whole nutrition economy (lack of chlorophyll, lack of 
normal branching and absorbing root system) has been re- 
versed, as it would seem, so that one might regard it as para- 
sitie on its fungus inhabitant. You will regard this state- 
ment, however, not as having any scientific status but rather 
as a manner of comment designed to call into relief phenom- 
ena which emphasize not merely the complex relations exist- 
ing in climax forest but the interdependence of members of 
this association, or as one may say, social organization. 
As a final comment on this subject of climax forest, it may 
be repeated that the stability or equilibrium of this stage of 
vegetation hinges upon the combination of factors which g0 
toward maintaining a stable condition of the soil against the 
menace of an indefinite accumulation of dead organisms 
which brings into focus again one of the main problems 
worked out in the history of vegetation. 
THE STATUS OF NEW YORK VEGETATION 
UNDER CULTURAL CONDITIONS. 
The fact that so much space has been given to the presen- 
tation of the geographic relations of the mative vegetation of 
New York should not be taken as ground for concluding that 
in the eyes of a botanist the native vegetation is at present 
the matter of greatest consequence to us in an economie sense. 
The point of view has been that the “ genius” of our vegeta- 
tion, when we come to appreciate it fully, will furnish essen- 
tial knowledge and suggestions for the adoption of a rational 
philosophy as to the conservation and further development of 
the plant producing power of the land as well as for the util- 
ization of those features which contribute to the enjoyment 
