(io 9 ) 



meadows and marshes which at average flow of the stream 

 are several feet above its surface, but which at flood time 

 are occasionally submerged for short periods, the whole 

 valley being a very interesting illustration of the behavior 

 of a small stream with a large water-shed at and about its 

 sources. Considerable areas of the marshy land have al- 

 ready been reclaimed by filling, and by the lowering of the 

 dam forming the water-fall at the mansion; the general 

 plan contemplates a much further reduction in the amount 

 of marshy ground, and a further lowering and deepening 

 of the river by dredging, in order to take off freshets with 

 greater rapidity. A part of this flood plain is occupied by 

 the plantations of willows and poplars already described, 

 and these will be considerably extended, but large areas of 

 meadow will be left in their natural condition. 



South of these open meadows, the valley of the river is 

 much narrower and is occupied by several acres of charac- 

 teristic river woods, containing a considerable variety of 

 native trees and shrubs, extending south as far as the long 

 driveway bridge near the northern end of the hemlock 

 forest. 



13. Deciduous Woodlands 



The natural deciduous woodlands of the reservation are, 

 collectively, over 40 acres in area, mostly in the central and 

 southern portions of the tract, where they occupy rocky 

 ridges and some of the valleys between these ridges. Along 

 the Bronx River, from the boulder bridge north to the north 

 meadows, are several acres of river woods, subject to over- 

 flow at freshet periods. The woodlands contain many 

 species of native trees and a much greater number of kinds 

 of native shrubs and herbaceous plants; the undergrowth 

 is, locally, very dense. They are typical illustrations of 

 forests of our part of the country, and are treated and 

 protected as such. Dead and decrepit trees are removed 

 and dead branches pruned off from time to time; where 

 necessary, young trees are planted to replace those cut out; 

 the woods are patrolled to guard against forest fires. All 



