58 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



which runs below the principal station. The soil is dry, the 

 "bluffs being composed of yellow river sands. The old name 

 " Sugar Bowl," applied to the most conspicuous bluff, was sug- 

 gested to our forefathers by the resemblance of this sand to the 

 brown sugar so commonly used in their day. There are no 

 rocks in the vicinity. 



There is another station at Hooksett, where the Suncook 

 branch of the B. & M. R. R. crosses the river. Here are rocks 

 in abundance. 



25. Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. 



The tupelo, one of the most interesting of our native trees, 

 is much less rare than is generally supposed, being irregularly 

 distributed throughout our area. At Deer Neck, Lake Massa- 

 besic, the trees may be seen in great abundance. The largest 

 trees observed are in the "rhododendron swamp," (see note 

 below), where they are associated with Chamacyfaris thy aides 

 and Rhododendron maximum. When the swamp was invaded 

 by ' ' deforesters ' ' some 20 years ago the axe willingly spared 

 these tough old giants. 



Large trees may often be recognized at a distance by the 

 peculiar contour of the trunk, which has a columnar aspect, the 

 diameter diminishing but slightly from base to summit. The 

 trunk is usually bare for nearly half its length and often appears 

 as if broken short off at the top. The bark is very thick and 

 rough, and is seamed and cross-seamed in a characteristic man- 

 ner. The horizontality of the branches also constitutes a good 

 "field mark." 



26. Rhododendron maximum L. 



The Manchester station of this beautiful species is a high 

 wet swamp, very difficult of access. Here the plants are asso- 

 ciated with Chamtzcyparis thyoides &\\d, Nyssa sylvatica, as noted 

 above. They are usually in flower about July 4th. Since the 



