Niagara Falls 



1901 owners, who, through so many years, kept it mainly in the con- 

 dition in which Nature left it. To the naturalist, the hand of 

 cultivation is often the hand of devastation. It has happily been 

 spared, to a large extent, the ravage of the axe and plough, and 

 from the still more complete spoliation which comes from the 

 pasturage of horses and cattle. It would be very difficult to 

 find within another territory, so restricted in its limits, so great 

 a diversity of trees and shrubs — still more difficult to find, in 

 so small an area, such examples of aboreal symmetry and per- 

 fection as the island has to exhibit. 



From the geological history of the island, as has thus been 

 told, it would be inferred that it had received its Flora from the 

 mainland. This, no doubt, is true. In fact the botanist is unable 

 to point out a single instance of tree, or shrub, or herb, now 

 growing upon the island, not also to be found upon the mainland. 

 But, as has been remarked, the distinguishing characteristic of 

 its Flora is not the possession of any plant elsewhere unknown, 

 but the abundance of individuals and species which the island 

 displays. 



There are to be found in Western New York about one 

 hundred and seventy species of trees and shrubs. Goat Island 

 and the immediate vicinity of the river near the Falls can show 

 of these no less than one hundred and forty. 



Of our trees producing conspicuous flowers, such as the 

 Cucumber-tree {Magnolia acuminata) and the Tulip-tree 

 (Liriodendron tulipifera) , there are but few specimens in the 

 vicinity of the Falls. Abbe Provancher found the former grow- 

 ing at or near Clifton, and one magnificent specimen of the latter 

 may be pointed out on Goat Island. In the reforestation of the 

 denuded portions of the island, due observance to the planting 

 of these beautiful American trees should be had. 



Four maples are represented upon the island: Acer sac- 

 charinum, A. rubrum, A. dasycarpum and A. spicatum. The 

 first of these, the Sugar-maple, is perhaps the most abundant tree 

 upon the island. Five species of Sumach (Rhus) grow upon 



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