IN THE ADIRONDACKS. 



DR. JOHN C. GIFFORD. 



In May log driving on the Racquette 

 river had been in full force for some time, 

 and now the river was full of logs for 

 miles. It seems strange that a few lum- 

 ber companies should have the right to 

 monopolize a river for such a length of 

 time. Boating and fishing on the river are 

 impossible. Furthermore it must seriously 

 injure the fish. The water is contaminated 

 and the river is full of bark. The accom- 

 panying illustration shows log diiving on 

 the Racquette river. 



up plentifully on burnt-over ground. The 

 aspen is the salvation of such regions. It 

 is a simple matter to cut rows through 

 these thickets and plant them with coni- 

 fers. The poplars furnish shelter to the 

 young plants. The most difficult places to 

 plant are on fresh burns. Here there is 

 little shelter for the young trees and the 

 blackness of the ground draws the heat .of 

 the sun. A tree- which seems to thrive 

 well in this region is the Douglas spruce. 

 This is a native of our West. It has been 



AMATEUR PHOTO KY MR. PHILIPS. 



LOG DRIVING ON THE RACQUETTE RIVER. 



Trees were coming out rapidly in leaf, 

 although there was still a little frost in the 

 ground here and there and on Mt. Seward 

 there was still considerable snow. Tree 

 growth is slow in this country because of 

 the cold. Any month in the summer frost 

 is likely to occur. Many of the hardwoods 

 throughout this region are seriously in- 

 jured by frost cracks and ribs. 



On the mountain sides the patches of 

 light green foliage of the aspen stand out 

 in striking contrast to the dark green of 

 the spruces. The aspen and birch come 



successfully introduced in Europe, where 

 it is regarded with great favor. This tree 

 endures considerable drought and cold, 

 grows rapidly, produces a good wood and 

 a bark which is excellent for planting. Al- 

 though it is not yet time to judge, it gives 

 promise of being the most useful tree for 

 the Adirondacks. Dr. Evermann, of the 

 United States Fish Commission, has just 

 finished his course on fish culture to the 

 students of the New York State College of 

 Forestry, at Axton. 



