Mr. Pierce on the Catskill Mountains. 89 



sand feet in cascades, — sometimes concealed by the forest, 

 and then flashing to light through the evergreen foliage, leap- 

 ing from ledge to ledge, until they mingle their waters with 

 the Platterkill. 



Few evergreens were observed on the north mountain, 

 but the elevated ridge south of the clove presented an en- 

 tangled forest of hemlock, balsam fir and spruce, with plats 

 of hard maple, beach and birch- The glen of the Platter- 

 kill was filled with sugar-maple, beach, oak, chesnut, ash, 

 birch, cherry, hemlock and spruce. Near the head of the 

 clove the ravine suddenly rises, and the Platterkill, which 

 on the mountain affords water sufficient for mill-seats, de- 

 scends from the valley of the summit one thousand feet in 

 a few hundred yards of its progressive course, by a succes- 

 sion of falls over ledges. One of these falls, which is in view 

 from the road, is said to be one hundred and fifty feet in 

 height. From a lofty mural precipice situated at the head 

 of the clove, a striking view is presented of this fall and of 

 the deep gulf below. 



A saw-mill has been recently erected near the road of the 

 summit, on the brow of a precipice overlooking water-falls 

 and wild scenery. 



The mountain valley, at the head of the clove, is tolerably 

 fertile, but not extensively cultivated. Large tracts of pret- 

 ty level ground are situated to the north and west, thickly 

 clothed with hard maple and beach, which, if cleared, would 

 afford a fine grazing region for sheep and cattle. Unfortu- 

 nately, most of the residents on this part of the mountain 

 are not proprietors of the soil. They prefer stripping the 

 land of its best timber rather than resort to the regular toils 

 of agriculture. A considerable proportion live in log huts 

 without floor or furniture. Bread is rarely seen among 

 them; and but few have gardens. Their principal food, in 

 addition to wild meats and fish occasionally obtained, con- 

 sists of potatoes and pumpkins. They have as k\v comforts 

 as Rob Roy's band, or the Children of the Mist. Adjacent 

 to the Platterkill road on the mountain table land, there are 

 a few small farms under tolerable cultivation. 



The ascent from the Platterkill to the base of the moun- 

 tain summits, called Round Top and High peak, is gradual 

 through thick groves of maple, birch, beach, cherry and 

 hemlock. 



Vol. VI.— No. 7. 12 



