300 SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
the wild red raspberry, Rubus strigosus, grows with much larger 
stalks and finer, larger berries than in Woodland valley, where it 
is so plentiful. The eastern slope of Slide is very steep and 
difficult to climb, but we finally reached the summit. This is the 
highest of all the Catskill range, with an altitude of about 4,250 
feet. The trees are mostly balsam fir. On the very highest part 
of Slide, the ground is often entirely covered with Cornus cana- 
densis, the dwarf cornel or bunchberry. Its beautiful green leaves 
bedecked with bunches of bright red berries made one of the most 
pleasing botanical sights we have ever witnessed. 
It is surprising how many bog plants and plants that grow in 
cool, damp places are to be found on the dry summits of these 
mountains. The probable causes are that there is more precipi- 
tation on mountain tops, that it is cooler, the warm season is 
shorter, and evaporation is less, so that during the greater part 
of the year the soil is quite moist. 
I have presented but a few of the botanical conditions of this 
interesting region and hope that the future will give opportunity 
for a more exhaustive study. 
