Kentucky Forests and Caves 
“ Comparing volumes of vegetable verdure in 
different countries to a wedge, the thick end 
would be in the forests of Kentucky, the other 
in the lichens and mosses of the North. This 
verdure wedge would not be perfect in its lines. 
From Kentucky it would maintain its thickness 
long and well in passing the level forests of 
Indiana and Canada. From the maples and 
pines of Canada it would slope rapidly to the 
bleak Arctic hills with dwarf birches and alders; 
thence it would thin out in a long edge among 
hardy lichens and liverworts and mosses to 
the dwelling-places of everlasting frost. Far the 
grandest of all Kentucky plants are her noble 
oaks. They are the master existences of her 
exuberant forests. Here is the Eden, the para- 
dise of oaks. Passed the Kentucky line towards 
evening and obtained food and shelter from a 
thrifty Tennessee farmer, after he had made 
use of all the ordinary anti-hospitable argu- 
ments of cautious comfortable families. 
September ro. Escaped from a heap of un- 
cordial kindness to the generous bosom of the 
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