572 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Polygonella articulata (L.) Meisn. 



Mollugo verticillata L. Indian Chickweed. Carpetweed. 

 Tali mi m teretifolium Pursh. 

 Draba Caroliniana Walt. Whitlow Grass. 

 Linaria Canadensis (L.) D union t. Toad Flax. 



Adopogon Carolinianwn (Walt.) Britton (= Krigia Virginica Willd. ). 

 Dwarf Dandelion. 



The Mesophytic flora evidently consists of all those plants growing 

 in medium or average conditions, and embraces the large majority of 

 the plants of the State. It is extremely difficult to separate this large 

 group in any satisfactory way, since as no extremes of condition exist 

 overlapping is extremely apt to occur. The more thoroughly the dis- 

 tribution of the plants of the State is studied, the less possible does it 

 seem to break up the mesophytic group into smaller groups, standing 

 for definite soil or light conditions. In as uniform an area as Indiana 

 there is no environmental obstacle worthy of mention to the spread of 

 any given species throughout the state. 



TIMBER AND TIMBER AREAS. 



The uses of forest areas are so manifold and so apparent that little 

 need be said concerning them. Aside from any of the remoter advan- 

 tages, however, a consideration of forests as a direct source of wealth 

 justifies a careful study of those conditions which best serve for their 

 development, of proper methods for the conservation of existing areas 

 and of species suitable for the reforestation of special regions. Much 

 of the land of the State, now utterly valueless, could be made to yield 

 handsome revenues in the future if properly planted to trees. Exist- 

 ing areas could be made to steadily increase in value, while yielding a 

 constant income if wisely managed. Every year owners of timber 

 lands, either through carelessness or ignorance are wasting valuable 

 property. Concerning the market value of the various crops which his 

 farm produces, the farmer is generally well posted, but concerning the 

 market value of the various trees making up his timber-land, he is 

 usually ignorant. The possible uses to which the various species may- 

 be put do not enter into his calculations, nor does he often consider 

 the probable increase in value of special forms, because of the intro- 

 duction of new industries. The amount of timber that has been al- 

 lowed to go to utter waste in the past history of the State, would have 

 been sufficient, if it had been preserved until the present and sold at 

 current prices, to have paid for every acre of land in the State. Even 

 yet, in almost every county, valuable timber is being constantly de- 



