190 



THE AMERICAN 



(Pyrola rotundifolia) , the common Winter- 

 green {Gaultheria procumhens) , Lady's Slipper 

 {Cypripedium), and many others too numerous 

 to mention here. Indeed, I might say that the 

 whole general aspect of the middle and northern 

 middle of the State resembles that of Central 

 New York much more than that of either State 

 does the flora of Illinois. In looking for a cause 

 for this, it seems very probable that this simi- 

 larity is due, not to any chance transfer of 

 similar seeds to that particular locality, or to a 

 similai-ity in climate, so much as to a similarity 

 in geological formation, though both the others 

 may have their influence. The central part of 

 the State of New York lies mostly in the De- 

 vonian or Old Ked Sandstone formation, as also 

 does the part of the State of Wisconsin above 

 referred to, while the greater portion of Illinois 

 (surface ol course) is the Carbonifei'ous or Sub- 

 carboniferous. In the northern part, where we 

 have the lower part of the Sub-carboniferous, or 

 it may be the formation immediately below that, 

 we have some plants characteristic of certain 

 localities and conditions in New York where we 

 also find the same geological formation, as the 

 Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) ; while 

 further south, I believe, they are not found. 

 My deductions may not be correct in this case, 

 though if not, there is a strange coincidence of 

 circumstances. 



Another interesting plant I found on my 

 travels was the Hare Bell (Campanula rotundi- 

 folia) . Though that grows in Illinois to some 

 extent, on the banks of some of our rivers, yet I 

 have never found it in so great abundance as in 

 some parts of Wisconsin. The soil seems to be 

 more adapted to its growth, as I found it fre- 

 quently from half a mile to one or two miles 

 back from the rivers, its usual habitat being 

 nearer the water. 



It may be that some of your readers would be 

 interested in the general character of the soil of 

 particular localities, as well as the flora. I spent 

 some time in Adams and Wood counties. Wis., 

 and from my observations can say that, in an 

 agricultural point of view, the soil is not very 

 inviting. It consists mostly of loose sand, 

 though it is not blown about as in some parts 

 of Michigan, having some vegetable mould in 

 its composition. There are places, however, 

 where it is, to all appearance, nothing but sand, 

 and looks about as inviting to a farmer as an ash 

 heap. The only plants I found on such places 

 were a species of Horse Balm {Mbnarda punc- 

 tata), a straw-colored Cyperus growing from 

 ten to fifteen inches high, some Sand Burs 

 (Cenchrus tribuloides) , or something else of a 



similar nature. The forest trees are mostly 

 Burr Oak (Quei'cus macrocarpa) , so stunted as 

 to have gained the general appellation of Scrub 

 Oak, and Scrub Pine (Finns Banksiana) , with 

 these not near enough together to be neighbors. 

 This is not the picture of the whole country, for 

 there are places where the soil has a larger mix- 

 ture of humus, and in such places the Pines in 

 a measure disappear, or stand like grim sentinels 

 in the distance. In such places there occur the 

 Black and some other kinds of Oak, with other 

 trees ; in the northern parts White and Norway 

 Pines (Pinus strobus and resinosa), though the 

 general timber country for these ijines is still 

 further north. Between these two extremes of 

 good and bad are found places where the Scrub 

 Pines do not disappear, but are seen to attain a 

 more respectable size. This kind of pine is 

 valued but very little for timber. Interspersed 

 with these were Hazel bushes (Corylus Ameri- 

 cana), Sweet Fern and Rose Willow (probably 

 Salix tristis) , yvith occasionally otlier varieties 

 in the lower grounds. Among other marsh 

 plants there were plenty of Cranberries (Oxy- 

 coccus macrocarpus) , which fruit, together with 

 Blue Berries and Huckleberries, forms quite an 

 article of commerce, by which the white inhabi- 

 tants are enabled to obtain many little luxuries, 

 and the Indians whisky. 



In some localities where the tillage had been 

 good I saw good crops of wheat and rye grow- 

 ing, though corn looked as though the plants 

 grownjast year would have to be wintered over 

 and started again this spring in order to get a 

 crop ; and, as a whole, the cereals did not seem 

 to be very remunerative. Hops seem to be the 

 most productive crop that can be raised in that 

 country, as they grow luxuriantly under the 

 cultivation usually given them — even growing 

 wild on the flats of the Wisconsin. 



As one might suppose, there is a great deal 

 of this country that is not under cultivation, in 

 some places the houses being from six to nine 

 miles apart, and that on a stage road traveled 

 every day. 6. H. F. 



IRVINGTON, 111. 



Red Snow. — In Alpine regions the fields of 

 snow sometimes suddenly appear as if stained 

 with blood. Upon close examination by the 

 microscope, this phenomenon is found to be 

 caused by a vegetable production of the simplest 

 kind, being but an immense crop of single cells 

 without root, stem, leaf, or flower, yet impi-essed 

 with the mysterious principle of vitality, and 

 multiplying by constant divisions and subdi- 

 visions of the parent cells. 



