1881.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



153 



cannot longer exist. With the death of the 

 larger trees there is, of course, an increase of 

 light, and then the Hierochlce, with other 

 grasses and sedges, speedily take possession, 

 holding together the loose soil, and even per- 

 mitting in many cases an increase of the 

 earthy layer, by holding much of the disinte- 

 grated rock which may be washed or blown 

 on from above. Carefully examining patches 

 of scrubby spruces above the timber line, it is 

 not uncommon to find dark patches of vege- 

 table mould, evidently the remains of large 

 trees that have been growing where now only 

 the masses of small scrubby plants exist. In 

 some places a sharp stick may be pushed down 

 among the scrubby fii'S and spruces, and the 

 earth found to be a loot or so deep over the 

 loose rock below, from which tlie earth has 

 been wholly washed away. Again, there are 

 some places, often nearly an acre in extent, 

 where the scrubby firs are still standing, dead, 

 from the earth having been washed away from 

 below upwards, not leaving enough for even 

 the moderate demands of these little bushes. 



In view of the facts detailed, we may con- 

 clude that at the elevation of these mountain 

 chains the lowland vegetation was carried up 

 at the same time. The summit, covered by 

 luxuriant forests, would present a cooler sur- 

 face to tiie moist clouds, and there would be 

 less condensation than on bare sun-warmed 

 rocks, and deep snows would be less frequent, 

 and not sufficient to interfere much with 

 arboreal growth. But the rain would of neces- 

 sity carry down the earth and disintegrated 

 rock to lower levels; and the melting snows, 

 such as there were, would make this down- 

 ward progress of the soil continuous. In some 

 mountains where the rock was easily broken 

 by frost, as in Colorado and the White Moun- 

 tains, it would be very difficult for the soil to 

 hold its own against these forces of gravita- 

 tion; but on more solid rock the mass of tree 

 roots protecting the rock, and retaining the 

 earthy ipatter, would longer hold its oven. In 

 the former case, with the gradual washing 

 away of the earth, the larger trees will have 

 to find a lower level; the summit condensing 

 more- moisture, and having a cooler atmos- 

 phere, would form heavier masses of longer- 

 enduring snow, and thus keep down from tall 

 growth the younger trees left as the older and 

 larger ones retired. They would have to be 

 low bushes by the absence of earth for vigor- 

 ous growth, and remain trailing bushes, 

 through the superincumbent and long-con- 

 tinued mass of snow. 



We thus see that though a long-continued 

 mass of snow has much to do in marking a 

 timber line, that line is precedent to the 

 snowy mass. The primary cause is the gravi- 

 tation of disintegrated rocks — the movement 

 of the hill top towards the sea. From the 

 moment the mountain reaches its highest 

 point it commences its downward march. The 

 entire reduction of the highest to a level with 

 the plain is but a question of time. The frost 

 and rain and melting snow will do it all, and 

 this reduction, bringing down not only the 

 earth, but cold-lovin;; plants to warmer levels, 

 must continually change the aspects of vegeta- 

 tion, as well as perpetually vaiy the timber 

 line. 



In low hills as well as in high mountains the 

 forces of gravitation are also at work. But 



the sides are seldom so steep as in the loftier 

 hills; the rains do not gather with such force, 

 nor are the molting snows of near the same 

 duration. There are sudden wiishes, Ijut not 

 the continuous roll of the earth to tlie bottom. 

 In time they may exhibit tiie same phenomena 

 of the disai)pearance of species from their 

 summits as their loftier brethren; but the cen- 

 turies here will gather much more slowly to 

 produce a similar effect. 



In conclusion, ho would say briefly that the 

 "timber line" of high mountain tops results 

 from the washing down of the eartli from the 

 higher elevations. 



Mr. Rcdflcld remarked that there could be 

 no doubt that inUuences other than climatic 

 (such, for instance, as the wasiiing away of 

 soil, mentioned by Mr. Meehan) do often 

 modify and change the timber line upon 

 mountains. But he was unable to accept Mr. 

 Mechan's views as to the insignificant part 

 played by climatic causes, and still held them 

 to be the prevailing factor in the pi oblcm. Dr. 

 Parry's explanation by the weight and d(5plh 

 of winter snows might not always be the cor- 

 rect one, but snow and ice must be very im- 

 portant agents, and Mr. R. thought that, in 

 considering climate, we should have regard 

 not merely to the present period, but to past 

 great secular periods. He then referred to 

 the glacial age, when not only the White 

 Mountains, but all New England, was capped 

 with a vast ice sheet, which under secular 

 changes gradually retreat, leaving only the 

 mountain tops covered. The slow retreat ot 

 the glacial covering was followed by the ad- 

 vance of fitting arboreal vegetation, until a 

 point "was reached when the present climatic 

 conditions were such as to limit any higher 

 advance of the trees. 



DELICIOUS STRAWBERRIES. 



Pleasant surprises greet us each year. One 

 season it would seem as if perfection had 

 almost been reached in some of the larger varie- 

 ties of strawberries; the next some kind will 

 make its appearance, revealing qualities so 

 different aud so superior in some resi)ects to 

 any preceding variety, that we begin to wonder 

 at the capabilities of the strawberry, and to 

 look forward with pleasure to what the future 

 may develop. For some years there has been 

 a decided advancement in the productiveness 

 of the strawberry, until at least it is not un. 

 usual to find some varieties producing at the 

 rate of 10,000 and even 14,000 quarts of berries 

 to the acre. Keeping pace with this advance 

 ment in productiveness, there has also been a 

 rapid increase in the size of the berries that 

 are produced by some of the newer sorts, until 

 at last some few specimen berries have been 

 obtained that -measure over a foot around 

 their greatest circumference. Beautiful large 

 berries indeed are some of them ! Though 

 weeks have elapsed siuce they were here, yet 

 the mere thought of them almost makes one's 

 mouth water! There is real satisfaction in 

 raising these immense berries, as wlien heaped 

 upon the fruit dish they make a f;iscinating 

 picture that few can help admiring, while 

 those who raise extra large berries for sale 

 find it very pleasant to receive from twenty- 

 five to fifty cents a rjuart for them. All per- 

 sons will not meet with such success, though 

 berries five and six inches around may very 



frequently lie grown, and even specimens of 

 that size will generally seem very large, and 

 give real enjoyment. 



Orient. — Fruit-growers will remember how 

 enthnsiastically the Monarch of the West 

 strawberry was welcomed some years ago, and 

 what vigor of plant, fine, large berries and 

 productiveness it displayed when it first made 

 its appearance. In some localities it has de- 

 cidedly deteriorated; but the Orient, which is 

 a new seedling of the Monarch, appears to 

 combine all the good qualities that the Mon- 

 arch had in its best days. The plants are pro- 

 ductive, and yiold many fiuc large berries, and 

 all of the best quality. 



Manchester. — This new variety has de- 

 veloped a merit th.at lias given a pleasant sur- 

 prise to nearly all who have seen the plants, 

 and that is — their capability for producing 

 large crops of fine berries on poor sandy soil, 

 near the sea-coast, where but few ol her straw- 

 berries would thrive. This will undoubtedly 

 make it a very valuable kind for such persons 

 as have similar soil. Then, too, as varieties 

 that succeed on poor sandy land almost inva- 

 riably do better when placed on soils where 

 they can get more nourishment, it should iilso 

 prove a desirable sort for most other persons. 

 Experiments thus f;ir in more favorable locali- 

 ties confirm this in the more vigorous growth, 

 and even finer crops that are obtained. The 

 fruit is of a bright red color; of good quality; 

 stands shipping well to distant markets, and 

 keept its fresh appearance much longer than 

 most varieties. This variety certainly gives 

 promise of becoming a great acquisitiott. 



Bidwell.— This is a new strawberry, whose 

 name is more familiar than the preceding 

 variety from the prominence that has been 

 given it at some of the Horticultural Exhibi- 

 tions. It is difficult to say which will prove 

 the more popular, whether this or the Man- 

 chester, though they will not conflict very 

 much, as the Bidwell is an earlier ripening 

 berry. The Bidwell has developed rare quali- 

 ties for productiveness, even young pot-grown 

 plants, set out a year ago, having yielded over 

 a hundred berries each this season; but what 

 is still more noteworthy is, that the size of 

 the fruit fruit has at times averaged as large 

 as the Sharples.s. It is a fine variety, eitixy; 

 for eating or for shipping to distant markets, 

 while the plants are healthy and vigorous 

 growers. 



Mammotli BitshhvLS the peculiarity of mak- 

 ing but very few runners. Mt. Vernon is be- 

 coming well known for its great productive- 

 ness and beautiful large, bright scarlet Berries; 

 President Lincoln and Sharjikss for their im- 

 mense fruit— some few specimens measuring 

 nine, ten, and even twelve inches around. 

 Among some of the other prominent new 

 kinds are LonfjfeHow, Satin Gloss and UarVa 

 Minnesota. 



Tlie strawberry well repays rich manuring 

 and good cultivation, though it is surprising, 

 sometimes, to see how well they will do when 

 almost neglected. Pot-grown plants give the 

 best results for planting in summer, but those 

 who cannot easily procure them may still ob- 

 tain many fine berries by getting the ordinary 

 Layer plants through the mails, being careful 

 to water and shade them well for a few days 

 until growth commences. By hoeing or rak- 

 ing the ground frequently they will make a 



