222 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



abundance. Fraxiniis americana and Gary a ovata were not 

 as abundant in number of specimens as Querciis alba and 

 Quercus rubra j, but Fraxinns americana was abundant, and 

 both Fraximis americana and Gary a ovata were widesjwead. 

 Acer rubrum was quite frequent in its occurrence east of 

 the railroad, but was found in only three places west of 

 the railroad. In the former instance it was found usually 

 quite near the lake ; in the latter, it was for the most part 

 in places where there was a good supply of soil moisture. 

 It was never found in ravines. Acer saccharum was more 

 abundant east of the tracks, and especially in the vicinity 

 of ravines. Whenever it was found in areas where under- 

 growth was allowed to grow, it was found reproducing 

 itself. Acer saccharum and Tilia americana were found in 

 similar habitats. The former was the most abundant of 

 these two species in this region. 



The present condition of the forest in view of the future, 

 as well as a knowedge of its past condition, is important to 

 note. The upland forest in N. T. 1, A, B, G, H, which in- 

 cludes practically all of the forest area in the new forest 

 preserve, is one of second growth, resulting from the cut- 

 ting out of large trees from the virgin forest. The trees 

 here are all from seven to fourteen inches in diameter. The 

 entire forest has been so closely pastured that all shrubs 

 and young trees have been destroyed, so that this forest is 

 in a static condition, or is retrogressing, so far as the nat- 

 ural method of its replacement is concerned. 



The individual forest areas in N. T. 6, are not very 

 large, but a large percentage of these are reproducing 

 themselves. The majority of the trees were from six to 

 twenty -four inches in diameter. There were practically 

 no areas in which there had been recent cutting. The 

 woods of this entire region, which most nearly approxi- 

 mated the virgin forest, was east of Sheridan Koad and 

 north and south of Kavine 4 (Newhall). (See map, N. T. 

 6, 34, 47, 35, 46, 50). The general aspect of this forest 

 may be seen in Fig. 6. The trees here were the largest in 

 this region, and were reproducing abundantly. Shrubs 

 and herbs were profuse. In forests of this type transpira- 

 tion and light are reduced to a minimum, moisture is in- 

 creased, and a mesophytic undergrowth results. Hama- 

 melis virginiana was the most abundant shrub growing in 



