FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 415 



Maine. It is, however, scarce. I have no doubt it was once much more plentiful. It 

 may be easily grown on damp, sandy or mucky soil, and no species is more worthy of 

 encouragement. 



The sweet gum — liquidambar or bilsted — which is so common in New Jersey, is 

 rare on Long Island. The black jack oak {Querais Marilandicd) which is charac- 

 teristic of the dry, sandy plains of New Jersey, occurs in a few places on Long 

 Island. The Spanish oak (Quercits digitatd), which is so common in Jersey and Dela- 

 ware, is, I believe, not found at all on Long Island. Magnolia glanca is found only in 

 one or two places. In fact, many of the plants which are common a little farther south 

 become rare on Long Island. The general appearance of the growth is similar, how- 

 ever, to that of the pine lands of New Jersey in spite of the absence of several species. 



The gnarled and stunted pines, the coppice oak of several kinds, the red cedars 

 and black cherries, with here and there a sassafras and a persimmon, tangled swamps 

 along streams of clear water, old fields coming up in pines, frequent forest fires, etc., 

 all remind one of southern New Jersey and Delaware. The locust grows with great 

 luxuriance on Long Island. The soil of this sandy plain is, I am quite certain, capable 

 of producing, if properly treated, a heavy crop of trees. It was once covered with a 

 luxuriant growth. The coppice oak*still shows great vigor, although it has been care- 

 lessly cut and burned over many times. 



The fact that Brooklyn secures its water supply from a part of this district, and 

 that other places on the south shore may use it for the same purpose, increases the 

 desirability of a good forest cover. 



It is not my intention to define this region in detail. I would simply emphasize 

 the fact that here there are thousands of acres of land fit only for the production of 

 wood, in one of the most favorably located regions on earth. It is land which has 

 been abused for years, but is quite capable of rejuvenation. It will support a great 

 variety of trees, owing to favorable climatic conditions. It is an excellent place for 

 tree nurseries. This sandy plain, although narrow, is at least fifty miles in length. 

 On this area wood enough to supply all local demands might be easily produced. 

 Rich men already own large preserves on this island. It is to be hoped that others 

 will buy the rest and convert it into a well-managed forest to show what private enter- 

 prise may do in this line. There is no better place for such experiments. If it will 

 pay anywhere in this country it will pay on Long Island. 



