PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 79 



THE MOREHEAD CAVES IN JACKSON COUNTY. 



Maquoketa, Iowa, March 26, 1919. 



Dr. L. H. Pammel, Ames, Iowa. Dear Sir: The Fine Arts Club of 

 Maquoketa, has asked me to write to you in regard to an interesting tract 

 near here, which we think should be placed upon the list of state park 

 areas. It is known as the Morehead Caves. A really wonderful forma- 

 tion! There is what is called the "Pulpit," The "Dance Hall," The 

 "Dining Room," ice cave and many other features. Persons have ex- 

 plored the caves going perhaps % of a mile, coming out into another 

 opening, over the caves where there is a fine forest which we fear is 

 being ruthlessly cut down for timber. Thousands of people visit the 

 caves every summer. We believe it should be developed into a very 

 valuable area for our state, with small expense. Our club would be of 

 service in every way possible. 



May we hear from you? 



Mrs. A. J. House. 



FLORA OF JACKSON AND DUBUQUE COUNTIES. 

 By L. H. Pammel, Botanist. 



The region, as a whole, along the Mississippi River and the tributaries., 

 is extremely rough. The largest stream of the region is the Maquoketa 

 river, with a flood plain somewhat wider than the other streams. The 

 smaller streams are all tortuous and for much of their distance show 

 vertical walls of limestone. In many of these places the valleys re- 

 semble canons. The hillsides for the most part were covered with forest 

 trees. In some places with rough limestone exposure the hill's were 

 grassy with such grasses as bluestem (Andropogon provincialis), and 

 small blue stem (A. scoparius) and Switch grass (Panicum virgatum). 

 Many of the original grasses have been replaced by blue grass (Poa 

 pratensis) but more especially (P. compreissa), and annual grasses like 

 Tickle grass (Panicum capillare). The limestone hills are covered with 

 a variety of trees like the Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), white oak 

 (Quercus alba), red oak (Q. rubra) and Chestnut oak (Q. acuminata). The 

 barren oak (Q. ellipsoidalis), and Quercitron oak (Q. velutina) are com- 

 mon in soils containing some sand. On the hillsides such trees as white 

 ash (Fraxinus americana), black cherry (Prunus serotina) Choke cherry 

 (P. virginiana) and an occasional group of Pin cherry (P. pennsyl- 

 vanicus) occur. The American plum (Prunus americana) is common 

 everywhere. The wild crab (Pyrus ioensis) forms thickets everywhere 

 over the hills. 



During the month of April the woods are whitened by the blossoming 

 of the Service berry (Amelanchier canadensis). Everywhere may be 

 seen the vine of wild grape (Vitis vulpina), the bittersweet (Celastrus scan- 

 dens), the honeysuckle (Lonicera glauca). A gorgeous display of the 

 Columbine (Aguilegia canadensis) is found in every protected nook of the 

 rocky shady declivities. On shady rocky hills the white flowers of the 

 ninebark (Physocarpos opulifolius) make a splendid showing. A some- 

 what rare shrub, the buckthorn (Rhamnus lanceolata) occurs on the 



