NARRATIVE. 



11 



stance, erroneous conclusions have been drawn as to the identity of species 

 on the European and American continents. 



" The combination of trees in forests is an important point in the physiog- 

 nomy of a country. The forests of Europe are much more uniform in this 

 respect than those of this country, from the greater variety of allied species 

 here. Thus, in Central Europe, there are but two species of oak, and no 

 wahiut whatever ; the so-called English walnut being a Persian tree. In 

 the United States there are over forty species of oak ; in Massachusetts 

 there are eleven kinds of oak, and six of walnuts and hickories. 



' ' Another important point is the distribution of water. "We have crossed 

 to-day three distinct basins, having no connection with each other, viz. , that 

 of the Atlantic coast, the Connecticut valley, and the valley of the Hudson. 

 It would be interesting to examine how far each of these basins has a pecu- 

 liar fcnma." 



June IQth. — ^At half-past seven this morning, after not a little wor- 

 ry, owing to the very defective arrangements at the railroad station, 

 we set off in the cars for Buffalo. Weather hot, but as our course lay 

 up the flat valley of the Mohawk, there were no more cuts, and the 

 dust was not so troublesome as yesterday. "We passed through level, 

 well-cultivated fields, spotted in many places mth. the bright yellow 

 flower of the mustard, just in blossom. 



This rich alluvial plain very early attracted settlers. Part of 

 it bears the name of the German Flats, from its first inhabitants, 

 and the names of the towns along the route, such as Manheim, 

 Palatine Bridge, &c., indicate an immigration from the Palatinate. 

 The Dutch and German blood is still predominant here, as is shown 

 by the names on the signs, the neat little red-painted houses, with 

 open loggias and drive-ways, and the huge barns of this race of 

 thiifty cultivators. 



After an uncomfortable night in the cars, we found ourselves at 

 daylight surrounded by the forest. Huge unbranching trunks, clear 

 of undergrowth ; occasional clearings, with log houses, and the com 

 or potatoes scattered among charred stumps. From Utica, west- 

 ward, along this road, one is constantly reminded of the "West. The 

 land here, too, is much of it uncleared, cheap, and fertile ; on the 

 other hand, aguish. In short, the advantages and disadvantages 

 are those of the West. From the abundance of pigs and children, 



