BARREN AND EDMONSON COUNTIES. II 
I had no opportunity to learn by observation how extensive 
the prairie was, a part of which extended into that portion of 
Barren county in which I collected. It evidently extended 
some distance south or southeast of Bowling Green; but how 
far it did extend in this direction or eastward, I had no oppor- 
tunity to observe. To the westward, in Edmonson county, 
there is evidence of the treeless condition existing. The very 
numerous ravines, valleys, and hillsides, become covered with 
tree growth first. The large tulip trees, hemlocks, sugar ma- 
ples, beeches, and chestnuts found in these less exposed localities, 
prove that generations of tree growth have passed since their 
seeds were scattered here; but the uplands show, that long 
since the deep valleys and hillsides were covered with forest 
growth, these were almost or entirely bare. Notwithstand- 
ing this, however, Edmonson county was forest-covered a gen- 
eration before Barren county. 
Taking the two counties together in which my collecting 
was done, they differ very much in surface character. In Bar- 
ren county the prevailing rock is limestone, except on the caps 
of the high hills, where sandstone is found. But in Edmonson 
county the heavy conglomerate and sandstone of the carbonif- 
erous period prevails at all points. The deep gulches cut by 
the numerous tributaries of Nolin and Bear creeks give a very 
different character to the geography of this county from that 
of Barren. These gulches must considerably modify the cli- 
mate; at least in them and beneath their immense walls of 
conglomerate and sandstone the extremes of heat and cold are 
greatly modified, and protection is furnished to several species 
of plants not found out of these places in this region. 
BOTANICAL NOTES. 
The list accompanying this will show the limited number of 
species found in the counties collected over. To give a correct 
understanding of the list, I should state that my collecting was 
confined to the months of May, June, July, and a few of the 
first days of August. The weather was unusually dry, which I 
suppose exerted an unfavorable influence upon the number of 
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