TORREYA 



Vol. 13 



June, 1913. 



No. 6 



THE FLORA OF COPAKE FALLS, N. Y. 



By Sereno Stetson 



One hundred and five miles north of New York City, on the 

 Harlem Division of the New York Central Railroad, lies the 

 little town of Copake Falls (railroad station Copake Iron Works) 

 in Columbia County, N. Y. Perhaps the location may be more 

 readily brought to mind by saying that it lies just north of 

 the point where New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut 

 converge, and next the Massachusetts state line. 



Its name is derived from the Indian, and when translated 

 signifies "Great Barrier." This is most appropriate, for as one 

 approaches the town from the " Flats' ' on the west, his attention 

 is immediately attracted by the number of mountains seemingly 

 piled together at this point; Mt. Washington, in Massachusetts, 

 Mt. Elander, Cedar and Bash-Bish Mountains. These almost 

 touch at their bases and form a gorge of exceeding beauty for a 

 distance of three or four miles. 



Bash-Bish Brook, which follows this gorge for its entire 

 distance, has its origin in four or five spring-fed brooklets on the 

 western slopes of Mt. Washington and enters the "Gap" in the 

 form of a beautiful waterfall fifty feet in height, and plays an 

 important part in the natural distribution of the plants. 



The topographical features are many. On the north lies a 

 plateau ranging from 950 to 1,100 feet above sea level. On the 

 east and south lie the mountains before mentioned, and on the 

 west the lowlands ranging 750 to 800 feet above sea level. 

 The summit of Cedar Mountain, about 1,000 feet above the 

 town, is swampy and furnishes, even during the driest season, 

 numerous small "trickles" which eventually find their way into 



[No. 5, Vol. 13, of ToRREYA, comprising pp. 89-120, was issued 6 May 1913.] 



121 



