REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1903 77 



The presence of wood was noted only in the top layer of peat, 

 but this of course does not prove that no wood is present in the 

 lower layers. 



In the western portion of the swamp, particularly that part in 

 the town of Cicero, the surface conditions are entirely different 

 from those of the drained portion north of Canastota. The thick 

 growth of arbor vitae, tamarack, scrub pine and other shrubbery 

 makes a typical " cedar swamp," which is almost impenetrable, 

 and the network of roots and fallen branches makes excavation 

 difficult. Near the southern edge, however, the swamp is covered 

 with a forest of deciduous trees. Little, if any, moss is to be seen 

 here, but all through the part where the cedars grow, is a luxuriant 

 growth of sphagnum with some ferns and a liberal scattering of 

 pitcher plants. Here as elsewhere the swamp has a springy, 

 spongy feeling Avhen one walks on it, but there is little if any 

 danger from sink holes after reaching the mossy portion of the 

 bog, though around the margin, where cattle have trampled the 

 vegetation, the soil is a black, slimy mud which is almost impass- 

 able. The peat in this portion of the swamp is said to be from 

 6 to 8 feet in thickness and is underlain by marl. In many places 

 the moss has been stripped by nurserymen for use in packing 

 trees and shrubbery. 



Pleasant lake. A small unnamed swamp in the town of 

 Schroeppel, Oswego county, about a half mile northwest of Pleas- 

 ant lake is a typical example of lake filling. In the center of the 

 marsh is a small pond, the remnant of a fair-sized lake, which is 

 entirely surrounded Avith an accumulation of peat of unknown 

 depth. A great portion of this bog has recently been stripped of 

 its moss, and consequently the new growth of moss does not fur- 

 nish such a firm foothold in crossing as does the older and thicker 

 growth of several years. The bog is very spongy and is rapidly 

 filling in the pond at the center, which at present is but a few rods 

 across. The mass underlying the new growth is not so much 

 decomposed as might be expected and would possibly furnish a 

 good fiber for paper. The bottom layers are well decomposed and 

 when dried would make excellent fuel. 



