52 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 



maining portion on account of its proximity to the seed 

 bearing trees to the south and west of it. 



FIELD A. 



We treated first of the area surrounding this field so 

 that we might note what plants from natural meadow 

 were able to regain a foot-hold on this area; and what 

 new species were competing with them. 



This field has not been cultivated since 1886, and 

 was sown to the following grass seeds: Poa pratensis, 

 Agrostis alba, and Phleum pratense. 



The trees occurring in this field are Populus moni- 

 lifera indicated by xl, etc., and Ulmus Americana indi- 

 cated by small circles. The diameters of the Populus 

 monilifera were as follows: xl, two feet; x2, three feet; 

 x3, one and one-fourth feet; x4, two and one-half feet; 

 x5, one and one-half feet. The diameters of Ulmus 

 Americana were 8, ten inches; 9, two and one-half feet; 

 10, one and one-fourth feet; 11, one and one-fourth feet; 

 12, one and one-half feet; 13, one one-fourth feet. 



The trees are in a very flourishing condition, but 

 the roots of those in the middle and eastern portion of 

 field are very shallow, some radiating above the ground, 

 partly on account of the settling of soil, partly on ac- 

 count of the shallow soil over the native rock. Dr. Asa 

 Brayton, who owns the field states that the trees are 

 voluntary, and that only a few of the largest were pres- 

 ent before the ditches were dug. 



The principal plants of the natural meadows to the 

 West and North which have gained a foot-hold, are: 

 Koellia Virginiana (L,-) MacM. (Virginia Mountain 

 Mint); Vernonia fasciculata Michx. (Western Iron- 

 weed); Agrimonia parviflora (Small-flowered Agrimony); 

 Euthamia graminifolia (Bushy Fragrant Goldenrod); 

 and Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod). The fol- 

 lowing plants occur less abundantly than the above, but 

 yet are quite common: Aster Novae-Anglie (New Eng- 

 land Aster); Lycopus Americanus (Cut-leaf Water 



