PLANTHSTG OK HIGH MOOES. 157 



peat-mosses and heath-plants, of which the former 

 occupy the low, swampy places, while the latter settle 

 upon the comparatively higher and, therefore, drier and 

 more compact parts of the moor — the tufts 



The first annual report of the New York Forest Com- 

 mission contains the following graphic description of 

 these moors which are called there "natural meadows." 

 " These natural meadows are formed by the gradual 

 filling-up of lake or pond-heds with an accumulated 

 growth and deposit. They are seen in the Adirondacks 

 in all stages of formation; some having a wide swampy 

 margin with a matted growth of aquatic vegetation; and 

 others still, entirely grown over. The last stage of 

 development is the natural meadow, level as a floor, on 

 which grows a scant, wiry, inferior quality of grass." 



The high moors or moss lands are formed not only on 

 plains and on heaths, but also in forests and upon mount- 

 ains, covered with a luxuriant growth of forest-trees. 

 This is proved by the many large trees which are found 

 in the peat layers. In former years the beavers, by 

 building their dams across the forest streams, laid the 

 foundation for many high moors. At present, reckless 

 men, who undertake to transport felled trees by rafts 

 upon the torrents of mountains, often stop the natural 

 flow of the waters, by erecting dams, and cause a back 

 flow which kills even the most luxurious forest-growth, 

 forming a nucleus around which the rapacious aquatic 

 plants gather and work up their way in the above des- 

 cribed manner. On this subject the cited Eeport of the 

 New York Forest Commission also contains a vivid des- 

 cription which we think will be very interesting to the 

 reader. Under the heading of Beaver Meadows it says, 

 on page 19, "Years ago when the beavers were plenty in 

 the Adirondack waters, they built their dams across the 

 creeks and streams. Sometimes these dams caused long 



