1893.] ESSAYS. 57 



acres which constitute the area of Mt. Wachusett, practically the 

 entire surface is covered with a dense and impenetrable growth of 

 trees and shrubs, and these include almost every species and variety 

 comprised in the sylva of Worcester County. This great forest 

 expanse is of special interest and value, because it is an original or 

 primeval growth, and as such is the only one of any considerable 

 extent in the county. Here one can see trees in every stage of exist- 

 ence, from the tiny seedling to the aged oak and hemlock that com- 

 pleted their growth above a century ago. Here associated together 

 are the oaks and maples in variety, the American linden or basswood, 

 the yellow and black birches, the elm, butternut, chestnut and wal- 

 nuts in variety, the white and black ash, the white pine and hemlock, 

 the beech, spruce, ironwood, dogwood (cornus Jlorida), sassafras, 

 poplars in variety, the American spruce, and the hornbeam or tupelo. 



Among the shrubs and plants found upon the summit of Mt. 

 Wachusett, are those common only to mountainous situations. 

 Pleasingly conspicuous among these are the striped and mountain 

 maples, both of which grow in profusion along the mountain car- 

 riage road, and fringe the forest at its base. The striped maple 

 (A. striatum), as seen upon Mt. Wachusett, is not dissimilar in color 

 and form to the dwarf Japanese maples, now so freely and advanta- 

 geously used in lawn and garden decorations. It grows from eight 

 to twelve feet in height. It has a smooth bark that is exquisite in 

 the beauty of its green and black stripes. Its large, yellowish-green 

 flowers are succeeded by long, pendulous clusters of seeds or fruit, 

 having pale green wings, and the clusters are in such abundance as 

 to add to the attractiveness of the tree. 



The mountain maple is of dwarfer habit than the preceding, and it 

 has a light gray bark. It flowers profusely, and its pendulous clus- 

 ters of fruit are furnished with wings of a purplish tinge. 



Another shrub, which embellishes the mountain roadside from base 

 to summit, is the panicled elder (samhucus pubens), and its presence 

 in such abundance is all the more singular as it is rare in New P^ng- 

 land, and not common anywhere except it be on the slopes of the 

 Alleghany Mountains. As seen on Mt. Wachusett it is a shrub, 

 oftentimes ten and even twelve feet in height, and its decidedly orna- 

 mental appearance is produced by large, quite compact panicles of 

 bright scarlet berries. The panicles are borne at the terminals of 

 the shrub, and the dazzling hue of their berries gives them the 

 appearance of so many blazing torches of fire. 



The forest which clothes the area of Mt. Wachusett has an infinite 



