27 



THE WHITE CEDAR IN WESTERN LONG ISLAND 



By Eugene P. Bicknell 



The article by Dr. R. M. Harper in Torreya (7: 198-200. 

 O 1907), entitled " A Long Island Cedar Swamp," makes appro- 

 priate some further reference to the southern white cedar, CJiamae- 

 cyparis thyoides (L.) B. S. P., in western Long Island. 



In this region the white cedar is one of the rarer trees and is 

 known to me from only three localities, all on the south side of 

 the island. It occurs near Merrick, in Rockville Center, at a 

 point nearly six miles to the west, and again directly west, eight 

 and a half miles between Jamaica South and Aqueduct, this 

 station being within the corporate limits of Greater New York 

 and not ten miles from the Brooklyn Borough Hall. 



The locality near Merrick is the cedar swamp described by 

 Dr. Harper and earlier mentioned by Mr. J. T. Nichols in R]w- 

 dora(^g: 74. Ap 1907). In the interest of a clear record it should 

 be said that this cedar swamp is the same one to which an excur- 

 sion of the Torrey Club was conducted by Miss F. A. Mulford on 

 May 30, 1906. Upon that occasion the swamp was explored at a 

 point over half a mile north of the railroad. Dr. Harper traced 

 the cedars several hundred yards south of the railroad. Hence 

 it appears that the growth extends nearly a mile north and south 

 along the stream. Probably no more extensive growth of this 

 tree occurs within a much greater distance from New York. 



A colony some eight miles further to the east, just west of 

 Amityville, is also reported by Mr. Nichols {loc. cit.). 



At Rockville Center two good-sized trees grow near together 

 in the swampy thicket along the brook flowing from Hempstead 

 Pond. 



The westernmost station, a mile and a quarter east of Aqueduct, 

 is a swampy spot in the woods which, though it now becomes 

 dry in summer, was once evidently a more permanent swamp and 

 formed the source of a small brook. Here is an assemblage of 

 white cedars not more than a few rods in extent, the remnant of 

 an ancient colony as attested by the size of some of the trees. 

 When last visited, May 9, 1906, many of the trees were dead or 



