THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 



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ity of which is 31.6%. Considering the pitch pine type of vegetation as 

 indicative of only slightly better conditions than the grasslands we are 

 confronted with moisture holding capacity figures that are better than the 

 average pitch pine soils, and yet a failure to produce this type of vegetation 

 at Montauk. 



Figure 30. (a) Surface soil under Hither Woods; 90% humus and coarse sand, 10% 

 coarse sand, (b) Surface soil under wooded kettlehole; 66% coarse sand and humus, 

 34% fine sand and humus, (c) Surface soil under Point Woods; 90% coarse sand, 10% fine 

 sand, both only slightly darkened by humus. 



In the case of the woodlands there is also a difference, as under eighteen 

 different stations on Long Island, all supporting an oak forest, the moisture 

 holding capacity of the subsoils averages 37.4%, while the figure for Mon- 

 tauk forest growth is 39.9%. 



Both on the Downs, and in what woods occur at Montauk, there is 

 thus a soil condition better than in other parts of Long Island, and, as we 

 have seen, the failure to produce vegetation that might be expected to 

 result from such conditions appears to be due to factors of climate already 

 discussed. 



Considering only the surface soils we have the following condition: 



