THE DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 385 



land swamps as an under shrub, familiarly known by the name of 

 "ground hemlock." 



While the evergreens wear the same sombre aspect throughout the 

 year, the deciduous trees present every phase of change, from leafless 

 branches in winter to the delicate green of spring, the full leafage of 

 summer, and the gorgeous hues of autumn ; so that to them are due 

 some of the most pleasing features of New Hampshire scenery. This 

 effect is increased by their greater number of species as compared with 

 the evergreens, and by their heterogeneous mode of growth, a forest of 

 deciduous trees generally containing several species, growing in about 

 equal numbers. In our forests the most important of these are maples, 

 beech, birches, chestnut, and oaks ; and, less abundantly, elm, butternut, 

 hickory, ashes, cherries, basswood, and poplars. 



The maples are best represented, all the species growing in the north- 

 ern United States being present. First among these are our white, red, 

 and sugar maples, all being large trees. The white or river maple is the 

 most limited in range, being confined to the intervals of the principal 

 streams, and rarely found away from them. The red maple (often 

 wrongly called white maple) is the most widely spread species, being 

 common to all parts of the state, and giving the brilliant scarlet hue of 

 our woodlands in autumn. The rock or sugar maple is the largest of the 

 genus, and fills an important part in the economy of the state, furnishing 

 sugar and valuable timber. It is common on hillsides throughout most 

 of the state and along many of the streams, but is rare toward the sea- 

 coast. 



The beech and the sugar maple are the most common deciduous trees 

 of Coos county, making up the greater part of the "hardwood" forests. 

 Southward, beech is common to the highlands only, often growing with 

 spruces and hemlocks. 



Four species of birch are common. Three of them, the black, yellow, 

 and canoe birches, have the same range as the red maple, for the most 

 part ; but the canoe or paper birch seems to attain the highest elevation, 

 being found high up the sides of the mountains, its white bark in striking 

 contrast with the dark trunks and foliage of the firs and spruces. The 

 fourth and smallest of these, the white birch, is distinguished for its light 



and graceful foliage, which renders it a pleasing feature wherever it is 

 VOL. i. 51 



