TORREYA 



Vol. 30 c . u r^ u No. 5 



beptember-Uctober 



Inwood Park, Manhattan 



Arthur Harmount Graves 



Inwood Park is located in the Borough of Manhattan, 

 New York City, at the extreme northwest corner of Man- 

 hattan Island, extending to the Hudson River on the west and 

 to Spuyten Duyvil Creek, also known as the "Ship Canal," 

 on the north (Fig. 1.). Because it was a camping ground of the 

 Indians of Manhattan and still preserves many evidences of 

 their occupancy, and possesses, furthermore, most attractive 

 scenic features as well as an interesting and varied flora, it 

 deserves to be better known. 



My own acquaintance with the region dates from the sum- 

 mer of 1918. At that time I was detailed by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture to search the country about New 

 York City for chestnut trees resistant to the bark blight. In 

 the course of my peregrinations I came across this interesting 

 locality, where by the way, several specimens of disease- 

 resistant chestnut were found. I was indeed surprised to find that 

 on Manhattan Island, the busy, thickly populated borough 

 which is the original New York City, a wild, wooded section 

 of this sort existed. Then it was still owned privately and was 

 in considerable dishabille — especially the parts such as Shora- 

 kapkok Glen. Fallen trees, dead decaying branches, weeds and 

 climbing plants, together with the vigorous growth of tall, 

 stately tulips and oaks, and an understory of spice bush, all com- 

 bined to produce an effect of natural wildness that was far re- 

 mote from the general conception of what is meant by New York 

 City. It is most fortunate that since then all this land has been 

 taken over by the city under the name of "Inwood Park," and 

 fortunate also that for the most part it has been left in a state 

 of nature : some roadways and paths have been constructed, and 



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