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growth of Jo Daviess county, it follows that the two oak species 

 are the source of practically all the wood and timber supply 

 of the region. The height noted above nowhere approaches 

 the till growth so commonly seen in Michigan, Indiana, and 

 Ohio. For post timber the young white oaks are very valu- 

 able ; but the scarlet oaks are almost worthless for such a 

 purpose, having but little durability in contact with the soil. 



The undergrowth in the association is as a rule more marked 

 by its absence than presence, great portions of the woods being 

 absolutely devoid of it. The most common shrub is the hazel 

 (Corylus americana), that in some of the moister places at- 

 tains a height of 16 feet and a diameter of 2^/2 inches. Black- 

 berries (Rtibus nigrobaccus) are abundant in isolated patches 

 that bear a constant relation to abundant water, being a certain 

 feature of ravine heads. An occasional grapevine (Vitis viil- 

 pina) is seen and in rich soil the Virginia creeper (Psedera). 

 Of substratum trees, certain hawthorns (Crataegus tomentosus 

 and C. mollis), the wild plum {Primus americana) , black haw 

 {Viburnum prunifolimn) , and choke-cherry (Prunus virginiana) 

 complete the list. The plums are remarkable for fruit variation 

 of every size, from bullets to great oval fruits lyi inches in 

 diameter, green, red, yellow and variegated, acerb, sour, and 

 sweet in flavor. 



The herbaceous plants in the white oak type are very 

 few in number, either in individuals or species, and the botan- 

 ist has hard work to obtain anything of note. Only a very few 

 plants are in any sense characteristic. Carex pennsylvanica is 

 everywhere, so also are innumberable spots of Antennaria; in 

 the open places Potentilla canadensis is common ; this is cer- 

 tainly a scant list. As the scarlet oaks predominate, and par- 

 ticularly where the humus is in large amount, there is found 

 a great increase in these forms of plant life, and individuals 

 and species become exuberant in numbers and growth. As an 

 example, it may not be amiss to record again what I stated in 

 Plant World, volume VII, that on the old home farm in War- 

 ren township of this county, 230 acres in extent, and having 



