1883.] “ The Plains” of Michigan. 251 
izing it they will find an almost unlimited supply on the barrens of 
northern Michigan. 
Among the scrub pines, and still more in the openings where 
they are less numerous, oak grubs are distributed far and wide, 
sometimes rather thinly, as is the case on the lightest sand, while 
in other places, and generally on the western barrens of the State, 
they stand more closely together and their rapidly growing sprouts 
are fast becoming a new forest. There is a story among the In- 
dians living in Lake county that the plains were formerly covered 
with a forest of oak and pine (presumably white and red pine), 
but not far from the beginning of the present century a great wind 
Swept over them, prostrating the oaks and leaving the pines, after 
which a fire destroyed them both, and Jack pines grew up in their 
place. Whatever significance may or may not be attached to this 
account, it is certain that the young oaks that are now growing so 
rapidly on the plains have come from stumps of old trees and not 
from acorns. The stumps are hardly ever to be seen at the sur- 
face, but upon removing a little of the earth or mold from the 
midst of the group of young trees they are found, often in a fair 
Mte of preservation, and of such dimensions as to show that a 
i fair-sized oak tree formerly stood on the spot. The prevailing spe- 
cies are the white and black oaks (Quercus alba and Q. tinctoria), 
though in certain localities the red oak (Q. rubra) is of common oc- 
currence. Many of these are six to eight or even ten feet high, and, 
a over wide areas, are thick enough together to constitute a perfect 
; In a few years these oaks, if protected from the ravages of 
. fire and the browsing of domestic animals, would furnish a consid- 
- rable amount of valuabletimber. Even now suchas have escaped 
“ese accidents and have grown to a suitable size are eagerly 
; sought after by mechanics for parts of wagons and like uses, and 
— ry n go long distances to get them for pieces of timber. 
| Proper oversight of these young forests, that are already planted 
a ar on their way to useful dimensions, would well repay the 
State or other owners of the land, although the oak trees that 
SY Compose them cannot be expected to attain very large di- 
“sions on lands of such inferior quality. 
: cogs to the scrub pine and oaks, two kinds of poplar are the 
J so z tremuloides), and the large-toothed aspen (P. grandiden- 
Cah In low places they cover the ground, and often on higher 
4 Vou, SVII.—no, tit. a ; 
