THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 5 1 



vanguard of pioneers spreads out over the grassland for on these exposed 

 Downs no pioneer can stand up. 



Whether the violence of this wind is actually reducing the size of the 

 forest only marked plots studied over a series of years would prove. The 

 present site, and probably the general extent of the Hither Woods has 

 existed from very early days, as David Gardiner, in his "Chronicles of the 

 Town of Easthampton' writes of the early condition of the country thus: 



"To the east of this [Napeaguej was Montauk, a high and hilly region of 

 rich land, where resided the tribe of that name, over whom Wyandanch 

 exercised control. Along the whole sea coast of the town, the border of the 

 upland produced a scrub oak, but the trees being gradually protected by 

 each other, from the violence of the winds which reached from over the 

 wide spread ocean, enlarged in height and size as they receeded. The oaks 

 were the predominant tree; they were of large growth, and, in the openings, 

 of very extended branches." 



There are, however, numerous historical references to the diminution 

 of these woods, none of which are of any real value, as none that has been 

 seen are for marked plots. It is certainly true at the present time, that on 

 this southern side, there is no attempt worth mentioning of the forest to 

 creep out over the Downs, such as we have seen it do on the more or less 

 protected east side. 



About half way from their western end, not over half a mile from the 

 beach, the contact is very abrupt. The woods at this point consist of 

 Quercus alba and Q. coccinea dominant, with a small mixture of Padus 

 virginiana, Hicora sp., and a few shrubs such as Ruhus nigrobaccus, Rhus 

 copallina, Rosa virginiana, and Gaylussacia baccaia, tied together with 

 Virginia Creeper, Smilax glauca and 5. rotundifolia . 



The herbs and other undergrowth under this forest, which is about 

 one-half the usual height, although obviously mature as evidenced by the 

 old trees that fall naturally, are the following, arranged in order of frequency. 



Lysimachia quadrifolia 



Rubus hispidus 



Deschampsia flexuosa 



Solidago rugosa 



Aster ericoides 



Nabalus trifoliolatus 



Acalypha virginica 



Just beyond are the open Downs with vegetation typical of such places. 



In them only a rare white oak seedling is to be found, usually not over a 



foot high, its few leaves browned and wind-scorched. Stragglers from the 



forest such as Gaylussacia baccaia and Rubus nigrobaccus, mixed with such 



