214 



the pine includes most of the mature trees here, the rising genera- 

 tion is composed mainly of hemlock, with a sprinkling of sugar 

 maple, yellow birch, beech, and other hardwoods. Obviously 

 pine does not represent the ultimate type. 



In northeastern Connecticut there are two forests which at 

 least closely approximate the virgin state. The largest of these 

 lies in the town of Woodstock, about three miles south of the 

 Massachusetts state line, and is known locally as "Lawson's 

 Pines." For the most part the area is covered with a mixed 

 stand of large pine and hemlock, but in places the growth is 

 almost pure pine. Chestnut, white oak (Quercus alba), and red 

 oak are important secondary species, but beech is absent and 

 yellow birch uncommon. A dense laurel tangle occupies most 

 of the forest floor while tree seedlings are also present in greater 

 or less abundance. White pine reproduction, however, is notice- 

 ably sparser than that of hemlock and hardwoods. The second 

 tract is in the town of Pomfret, about half a mile from the station 

 of Abington. The dominant trees here are chestnut, red oak, 

 and white oak. Hemlock is not common and beech seems to be 

 missing. Laurel, witch hazel, huckleberry, and pink azalea 

 comprise much of the underbrush. 



Southeastern Connecticut, so far as ascertained, possesses only 

 one possible fragment of original forest and, notwithstanding 

 the owner's assurance that the area has never been cut over, the 

 writer must confess to some doubt as to the primeval nature of 

 the tract. The area in question, some 40 acres in extent, occupies 

 a low hill bordering the Sound at the mouth of the Pawcatuck 

 River in the town of Stonington. In contrast to the forests 

 heretofore described there is a complete absence of hemlock, 

 beech, sugar maple, yellow birch, pine, and even chestnut. The 

 character trees are white oak and black oak (Quercus velutina), 

 especially the former, associated with which are shagbark hickory 

 and red maple. The stand is of a more open character than in 

 any of the areas previously mentioned and in general aspect the 

 forest resembles the climax oak-hickory type of the Chicago 

 region.* Trees with a diameter of from 45 to 60 centimeters 



* See Cowles, H. C. The physiographic ecology of Chicago and vicinity. Bot. 

 Gaz. 31: 78 ff. 1901. 



