( 189 ) 
woods to the contiguous hardwood area which borders them 
to the west and north, toward the museum building and the 
herbaceous grounds, is at once apparent, for here we see a 
luxuriant growth of shrubs and of herbs, including many of 
our most interesting wild flowers. 
8. The Gorge of the Bronx River 
The gorge of the Bronx River extends from the ‘ Blue 
Bridge ” at the north end of the Hemlock Forest southward 
for about a mile, nearly to Pelham Avenue, and is a most 
beautiful and picturesque natural feature, besides being of 
great geological significance; its depth from the summits of 
the hills on both sides averages nearly 75 feet, and its sides 
below the foot-bridge at the Lorillard mansion are nearly ver- 
tical rock faces. The hills on both sides are heavily wooded 
with hemlock spruces and other trees. In the upper part of 
the gorge the Bronx flows slowly, being held back by the 
dam forming the water-fall at the Lorillard mansion, and 
the elevation of its surface is only a few inches higher at the 
‘« Blue Bridge ” than it is at the fall; after plunging over the 
dam, however, the river runs in its unobstructed natural chan- 
nel with ail the appearance of a mountain stream, which at 
high water is exceedingly beautiful. 
g. North Meadows and River Woods 
The Bronx River enters the northern end of the Garden 
from Williamsbridge, and flows as a slow stream southward 
to the water-fall at the Lorillard mansion, its surface being 
nearly level throughout this distance. It is spanned just 
inside the northern boundary of the Garden by a concrete- 
steel arched bridge with granite copings, which carries the 
main park driveway across it near the Newell Avenue en- 
trance. The entire northern end of the Garden is formed of 
the flood plain of the Bronx River, consisting largely of 
grassy meadows and marshes which at average flow of the 
stream are several feet above its surface, but which at flood 
time are occasionally submerged for short periods, the whole 
