VI 



BIRCH BROWSINGS 



region of which I am about to speak lies in 

 the southern part of the State of New York, 

 and comprises parts of three counties, Ulster, 

 Sullivan, and Delaware. It is drained by tributa- 

 ries of both the Hudson and Delaware, and, next to 

 the Adirondack section, contains more wild land 

 than any other tract in the State. The mountains 

 which traverse it, and impart to it its severe north- 

 ern climate, belong properly to the Catskill range. 

 On some maps of the State they are called the Pine 

 Mountains, though with obvious local impropriety, 

 as pine, so far as I have observed, is nowhere found 

 upon them. "Birch Mountains" would be a more 

 characteristic name, as on their summits birch is 

 the prevailing tree. They are the natural home of 

 the black and yellow birch, which grow here to 

 unusual size. On their sides beech and maple 

 abound; while, mantling their lower slopes and 

 darkening the valleys, hemlock formerly enticed 

 the lumberman and tanner. Except in remote or 

 inaccessible localities, the latter tree is now almost 

 never found. In Shandaken and along the Esopus 

 it is about the only product the country yielded, or 



