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no evidence that it occupies a former bed of the stream. The bog probably 

 occupies what was originally a small lake on the valley floor, fed by springs 

 in the underlying gravel. The former area of the bog was no doubt much 

 greater than its present area, as is shown by extensive outlying deposits 

 of peaty soil. The area of the bog has been greatly reduced during the 

 last few years by artificial means. From natives of the vicinity, it was 

 learned that the bog was formerly much wetter and more impenetrable. 

 A story is told of an "herb-doctor" who entered the bog on a collecting 

 expedition and never returned. A skeleton recently unearthed was supposed 

 to be that of the unfortunate doctor. 



The bog is now artificially drained by a large ditch, but the natural 

 drainage was evidently very sluggish. 



The bog in its present condition throws no light on the question of the 

 origin of the floating mat of plants characteristic of the earlier stages. Four 

 rather distinct plant associations, representing four stages in the plant suc- 

 cession in a bog formation, are represented here. These are the sedge-grass 

 association, the birch-alder association, the arbor vitae association and the 

 maple-tulip association. 



The quaking mat, occupied by the sedge-grass association, has almost 

 disappeared, and exists only in isolated patches, the largest of which is 

 shown on the accompanying map, Fig. 2. One of the smaller patches appears 

 in a photograph, Fig. 7. The areas that are left are quite typical. Walking 

 about over the mat is to be conducted with some caution, especially in the 

 wetter seasons. By jumping on the mat, one can shake it for many feet 

 around. A stick can be thrust down with little resistance to a depth of four 

 to six feet. The burning over of the largest of these areas has destroyed 

 many of the typical plants. The principal species found in the association 

 are as follows: 



Drosera rotundifolia. 



Parnassia caroliniana. 



Carex spp. 



Lophiola aurea. 



Solidago ohioensis. 



Solidago Riddellii. 



Calopogon pulchellus. 



Liparis Loeselii. 



Habenaria peramoena. 



