THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 83 



are concerned, there appear to be limits, but they are usually rather 

 wide limits within which they prefer to grow. But even here the number 

 of exceptions makes it hazardous to say that they wall only grow in 

 what appears to be their preferred habitat. And when it comes to 

 whole vegetation types, the case is hopeless, as within each may be 

 found an infinite variety of specific acidities, and nowhere that the 

 writer has studied, any uniformity of it as to amount. Practically the 

 only thing that may safely be said of the Montauk soils (excluding bogs 

 and salt marshes) is that they vary in specific acidity from 3-I- to 30-f-. 

 and that this is without distributional significance, so far as the occurrence 

 or extent of major vegetative covering is concerned Another factor which 

 leads to accepting specific acidity with considerable caution as an active 

 determinant in the distribution of vegetative types, is that it is a meastire 

 of what the decomposition of the plants has done to the soil, rather than a 

 measure of the specific acidity of the soil per se. The tests for subsoils 

 demonstrate this, as all over Long Island these vary only (with minor 

 exceptions) from 3+ to 10. The surface soils, due to decomposition 

 of the different types of vegetation supported by them, vary consider- 

 ably, but as at Montauk, only within limits of little significance. In 

 regions where there is a deeper accumulation of humus the variation is 

 of course greater and of much more significance, as for instance, in the 

 spruce forests in the north. 



Summary. 



Montauk, which within historic times at least, has always been pre- 

 dominantly grassland, appears to be incapable of producing a forest, 

 except under conditions of protection from the wind, and where there is 

 available water. This, in spite of the fact that temperature, rainfall, 

 humidity, evaporation and physical characteristics of the soil are as good 

 as, or better than, those in the vicinity where forest growth is normal. The 

 region is well within the general forest area of the northeastern states, and 

 yet appears to be incapable of producing a forest, as that term is ordinarily 

 understood. Of all the environmental factors, the wind is unquestionably 

 the most important, and it may, tipon subsequent experimentation, prove 

 to be the factor.* 



* It is a local tradition that trees will not grow on the exposed Downs. To test this 

 twelve oaks (three each of four different species) were set out on the property of Guy 

 DuVal, Esq., with different exposures to the wind. It is too early to report upon their 

 condition, and as they are protected from fire and cattle, but not cultivated or watered, 

 their response to their environment will be of interest. I am grateful to Mr. DuV'al for 

 this and for many other courtesies during numerous visits to Montauk. 



