BIRCH BROWSINGS. 



THE 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, Sulli- 

 van, and Delaware. It is drained by tributaries of 

 both the Hudson and Delaware, and, next to the Adi- 

 rondac section, contains more wild land than any 

 other tract in the State. The mountains which traverse 

 it, and impart to it its severe northern 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 Moun- 

 tains " 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 inacces- 

 sible 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 is 

 likely to yield. Tanneries by the score have arisen 



