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found here. This swamp is too extensive to be explored in a 

 short time and would prove interesting ground for further search. 

 The main part of the swamp had been cleared of most of its 

 timber for some years and is not so favorable for the wild plants 

 of the deep woods as it must have been at a former time. It was 

 interesting, though regrettable, to note that most of the open part 

 of the swamp had been overrun by Polygonum arifolium, which 

 excluded other plants and formed a dense tangle. A visit to 

 another interesting place beyond this swamp concluded a profit- 

 able afternoon's outing. 



On September i 5 was given the seventh forestry lesson of the 

 special series begun in the spring and discontinued during the 

 summer. The subject of the lesson was " Vegetation of Swamps 

 and Sand Dunes," with Dr. Arthur Hollick as instructor and guide. 

 Ten members were present, and the bench, dune, and salt marsh 

 areas explored extended from New Creek, South Beach, to 

 Midland Beach. Staten Island. The region consists of a barrier 

 beach, with a limited amount of dune sand above high-water 

 mark, and extensive salt marshes on the land side. The salt 

 marsh formerly extended out beyond the present beach line and 

 remains of the old marsh turf or sod were seen exposed at low 

 tide. The beach was formed by sand drifted in by the tides and 

 currents and not by the wearing away of the adjacent meadow 

 land. In places the sand was found drifted by the wind into low 

 dunes about four or five feet high. The formation of the dunes 

 is largely due to the influence of AviniopJiila arenaria, which not 

 only forms extensive mats of roots but also is able to grow up- 

 ward through sand drifted over it, thus holding the sand in place. 

 Accompanying plants were Cenclinis tribuloides, Solidago sevi- 

 pervii'cns, Myrica carolincnsis, and Cakile edentula. On the 

 borders of the the salt marsh, Baccliaris Jialiudfolia was particu- 

 larly conspicuous ; also, Iva friitescens, PliicJiea cainpliorata, and 

 Livionium caroliniaimm. A few plants of Sabbatia stellaris were 

 found ; this has apparently disappeared from areas where it was 

 formerly very abundant. A grove oi Junipcriis znrginiana was a 

 conspicuous feature on a slight rise on the salt-marsh border. 



