12 



olaria flava, Silene, Sericocarpiis, Pteridium, Dryopteris simulata, 

 Chamae7ierion, Crocanthemum, Meibomia panicidata, Eragrostis, 

 Chamaesyce, Meibomia rigida, Stropho styles, Andropogon, Lilium, 

 Cakile, Aureolaria Pedicularia, Eiipatorium sessilifolium, Carex 

 vestita. Some of these are chiefly confined to swamps, which are 

 less common in the more northerly area, some prefer (or tolerate) 

 poorer soils, while the reasons in a few cases are less obvious. 

 A reverse comparison might be made by listing plants that are 

 more abundant in northern Queens County than here, but that 

 would involve bringing in several species that have not been 

 mentioned before, and can better be deferred until the vegetation 

 of northern Queens is discussed. It is well worth mentioning, 

 however, that three trees which are common just north of the 

 moraine, namely Betula lenta, Fagus, and Liquidambar, are almost 

 wanting in the area under consideration. In the case of Liqui- 

 dambar this is contrary to what one might expect in view of the 

 fact that in the northeastern states it is almost confined to the 

 coastal plain, and this is near its northern limit. 



The following species are more abundant in southern Kings 

 and Queens Counties than in the geologically and topographic- 

 ally similar portion of Nassau : — Trees : Quercus velutina, Hicoria 

 alba, Liriodendr oil. Small trees: Gonitis florida. Vines: Vitis, 

 Celastrus, Lonicera. Shrubs: Viburnum acerifolium, Rubus 

 nigrobaccus? , Samhucus. Herbs: Vagnera racemosa, Solidago 

 caesia, 5. bicolor, Geranium, Aster divaricatus, Falcata, Meibomia 

 nudiflora, Gollinsonia, Impatiens, Fragaria, Silene, Leptandra, 

 Gircaea, Glycine, Polygonatum, Juncoides. The significant factors 

 in most of these cases seem to be richer soil and more protection 

 from fire. In the western half of Long Island the natural soil 

 fertility is greatest toward the west, and bodies of water and other 

 barriers to fire are also closer together in that direction, a cir- 

 cumstance which favors the accumulation of humus.* 



Comparisons with several non-adjacent regions could also be 

 made, but if one should begin that it would be hard to decide 

 where to stop. 



If other botanists will study the vegetation of this and other 



*See Bull. Torrey Club 38: 515-525. 1911. 



