Flora and Fauna 



current below. The dogs were doubtless fortunate enough to 1872 

 fall in this way, aided also by the repulsion of the water from ° ey 

 the rocks in the swift channel through which they passed. It is 

 not impossible that some strong man in a light, strong boat may 

 thus, at some future time, go over the Horse-Shoe Fall and not 

 be killed. 



1879 



1 New York state survey. Special report on the preservation of the 1879 

 scenery of Niagara Falls, and fourth annual report on the triangulation 

 of the state for the year 1879. James T. Gardner, Director. Albany: 

 Charles Van Benthuysen and Sons. 1880. Pp. 27-31. 



These valuable notes on the natural beauties of Niagara with some 

 account of its varieties of vegetation are by Frederick Law Olmsted. 



I have spoken of the distinctive charms of Niagara scenery. 

 If it were possible to have the same conditions detached from the 

 falls (which it is not, as I shall show), Niagara would still be 

 a place- of singular fascination ; possibly to some, upon whom the 

 falls have a terrifying effect, even more so than it is now. 



Saying nothing of the infinitely varied beauties of water and 

 spray, and of water-worn rock, I will, for a purpose, mention a 

 few elements which contribute to this distinctive charm. 



The eminent English botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker, has said 

 that he found upon Goat Island a greater variety of vegetation 

 within a given space than anywhere in Europe, or east of the 

 Sierras, in America; and the first of American botanists, Dr. 

 Asa Gray, has repeated the statement. I have followed the 

 Apalachian chain almost from end to end, and traveled on 

 horseback, " in search of the picturesque," over four thousand 

 miles of the most promising parts of the continent without finding 

 elsewhere the same quality of forest beauty which was once 

 abundant about the falls, and which is still to be observed in 

 those parts of Goat Island where the original growth of trees and 



1 A full account of the contents of this survey will be found in chapter 

 XI. 



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