Announcement of the 



Within the region are three well marked soil types each bearing 

 its peculiar type of vegetation. The better soil of the uplands is 

 clayey, the poorer sandy. The clay soil supports the hardwood for- 

 est while the sandy soils were formerly covered with 'pine forests. 

 The low lands are usually bogs and these support a characteristic 

 vegetation. The lake shores, river banks and occasional small sand 

 dunes support a characteristic but less abundant vegetation. The 

 beech-maple or hard-wood forest is similar to that occurring through- 

 out the state of Michigan. Its characteristic trees are sugar maple, 

 beech, hemlock, and white ash. Several small forests of this type 

 may be found within walking distance of the Station but the best 

 hardwood forests of the region lie along the Jackson and Tindle 

 Lumber Railway west of Pellston. In place of the pine forests which 

 formerly occupied the sandy soils are now found the aspens which 

 find ready access to the cut-over and burned-over lands. These are 

 small short-lived trees which are important in the reforestation of 

 the burned-over areas. Among the aspens are frequent pine trees 

 ranging in size from seedlings to cone bearing trees. With protection 

 from fire such lands will in course of time become reforested with 

 pines. 



Within the region are many bogs in various stages of develop- 

 ment. In the bogs occur many white cedars (arbor vitae), tamaracks, 

 spruces, and balsams. The ground flora is typical and quite northern. 

 It contains among other plants several species of orchids, and the in- 

 teresting insect-catching sundew and pitcher plants. The lake shore, 

 pond and river banks furnish interesting species. Most of the 

 streams of the region are small and they vary in character of flow 

 from sluggish to rapid. The lakes vary in size from very small ones 

 without outlet to Burt Lake, nearly 20 miles long, to Lakes Michigan 

 and Huron. Station activities do not ordinarily include the last 

 two lakes. On the shores of Douglas Lake are a few small sand 

 dunes. Dune work is usually supplemented by a trip to the large 

 dunes along Lake Michigan. 



This region in which the Station is located thus offers consider- 

 able diversity of original conditions which have in many respects 

 undergone modifications by fire, permitting great vegetational changes 

 which admit of a very adequate presentation of ecological principles. 



Among the problems in plant ecology suggested by the region 

 are : the development of certain habitats, successional relationships, 

 correlation of vegetation and evaporation, physiological limitations 

 of habitats and species, growth increments under varying conditions, 

 changes in soil and vegetation due to cutting, burning, draining, 

 planting, and seeding. 



The region likewise offers a rich field for scientific work with 

 the Cryptogams. Algae abound in the lakes, pools and streams ; lich- 

 ens, mosses, ferns, and the fern allies may be found in abundance 

 in habitats varying from Sphagnum and Thuya bogs to the dry,. 



