BLOCK ISLAM). C9 



would be the first to adv^ance and occupy the ground, while that 

 of the moraine, being more of a northern type, could not be- 

 come established until the conditions due to glaciation north- 

 ward had become modified so that it could exist there and be- 

 come distributed and Block Island, on account of its morainal 

 character, would only be favorable for the flora which was the 

 last to return. These geological changes then were probably 

 what determined the general character of the flora in the first 

 instance, and the next question for us to answer is what subse- 

 quent causes served to modify it into its present condition. 



In the accounts of the earlier explorers and settlers the trees 

 of the island are frequently mentioned and there is no doubt 

 that it was extensively wooded at that time, but with what spe- 

 cies there does not seem to be any record, except \ague reference 

 to pine, oak, beech, hickory, etc. In many of the peat bogs 

 may yet be found large stumps, together wdth roots and branches, 

 providing us with evidence that these early accounts were true. 

 I saw one stump, about three feet in diameter, which had been 

 dug out of a swamp at Clay Head, while at Old Harbor Point, 

 in a sw^amp which had become exposed by the action of the 

 waves, were found numerous stumps, roots and branches. As 

 before stated, the island is now^practically treeless, except for the 

 few wind-lashed and stunted individuals in the vicinity of dwell- 

 ings or in sheltered swamps and hollows. The extinction of 

 the arboreal flora w^as undoubtedly due directly to the necessi- 

 ties of civilization, not only for the purposes of land cultivation 

 and pasturage, but also for lumber and fire wood. On account 

 of their isolated position, the population, in its early days, had 

 to depend almost entirely for subsistence upon what could be 

 gathered from or cultivated on the island. The disappearance 

 of the trees is, therefore, readily accounted for by the direct in- 

 fluence of man, and to this influence was, of course, indirectly 

 due the extinction of such herbaceous plants as could only 

 exist under forestal conditions. Subsequent cultivation and pas- 

 turage destroyed many more, and the complete isolation of the 

 island rendered the re-establishing of species by natural agencies 

 a matter of time or fortuitious circumstances. 



