No. 385.] FORESTRY AND GEOLOGY. 7 
of the forests, due to extensive aggregations of a few predomi- 
nant species, is conspicuous over hundreds of square miles. 
Pinus rigida, for example, is not only the predominant, but 
almost the exclusive species over extensive areas, but no such 
example can be quoted in regard to any one species in the 
deciduous zone. If the geology and topography of the zones 
be considered, it may be seen that the deciduous is exceedingly 
varied in each of these features. The geological formations 
represented are numerous; the soil in consequence varies 
greatly, while the surface presents every gradation between 
low level plains and hills of considerable altitude. Its southern 
line is quite sharply coterminous with the southern edge of the 
Triassic formation, while in all other directions it extends up 
to and beyond the state lines. On the other hand, the conifer- 
ous zone presents but little diversity in either geology or topog- 
raphy. The geological formations represented are few. The 
soil has an almost uniform character throughout, and the sur- 
face irregularities are relatively small. Its northern border 
is coterminous with the northern border of the Tertiary gravels, 
sands, and sandy clays, and it is limited on its southern and 
eastern borders by a fringe of modern sand beaches and salt 
marshes, while southwestward it extends beyond the limits of. 
the state. It is more restricted in area and less capable of 
expansion, by reason of its geographic position, than is the 
deciduous zone. 
The tension zone includes practically the whole of the Creta- 
ceous plastic clays and the Cretaceous and Tertiary clay-marls 
and marls. It is intermediate geographically, and in its geologic 
and topographic features, between the other two. 
These facts may be observed to advantage at several critical 
localities, as, for example, in the vicinity of Farmingdale. At 
this locality there is an area of marl, like an oasis in a desert, 
located well within the border of the sands and gravels. If a 
line be traversed, starting from the vicinity of Lakewood, in 
the heart of the coniferous zone, little else than Pinus rigida, 
P. echinata, Quercus alba, Q. velutina, etc., are to be seen until 
the border of the marl area is reached, when the pines disappear 
and are replaced by deciduous trees, amongst which may be 
