138 BULLETIN OF \yiSCOXSIX IS'ATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. VOL, 2 NO. 3. 
mingling with these, such as the hazelnut, choke cherry, prickly 
ash, and in rather moist places the black alderberry. All these, 
with the exception of the last-named species, have numerous 
xerophytic characteristics, as might be expected from their sta- 
tions. 
Before these brushwoods in their typical development are 
treated in detail, attention should be called to a formation inter- 
mediate between a young forest and brushwood. This hybrid for- 
mation is found where forest has been cut in a manner to favor 
the growth of stool shoots. Of the forest trees of the region, es- 
pecially oak, basswood and ash are apt to form vigorous coppices, 
and it generally happens that simultaneously with the stool shoots 
the various shrubs mentioned spring up. For a while they con- 
test vigorously for the occupation of space, but after some years 
the trees get the upper hand, and the shrubs fall back to the posi- 
tion of underbrush. The areas of this character are usually much 
less xerophytic than brush areas which have grown into thickets 
through the heath stage to be described below. Consequently, 
mesophytic shrubs, like various species of Rihes, wdiich are never 
found in the heath, are common in them. The mesophytic con- 
ditions of these areas are easily explained by the fact that owing 
to the comparatively quick growth of the stool shoots the soil is 
not left uncovered as long as it is where no stool shoots are found. 
Consequently the humus accumulated while the forest was still 
standing is not so completely oxydized as where there are no stool 
shoots. 
Where the removal of the original forest did not take place in 
such a manner as to give an opportunity for coppice growth, the 
first stage of plant life is a vigorous contest between grasses, es- 
pecially several species of Poa; numerous stout herbs, such as 
asters, golden rod and sunflowers ; and the shrubs. As may be 
expected the areas on which this contest is allowed to proceed 
undisturbed are almost entirely restricted to steep hillsides, es- 
pecially those with a southern or western exposure. All better 
localities are needed for tilled fields, and natural processes of 
reclothing have no chance to operate. But the places indicated 
are of no use to the farmer except as pasture land, and are there- 
fore left to themselves, except as to the more or less heavy crop- 
ping by his cattle. In addition to the strong insolation caused by 
their steepness and exposure, these hillsides are apt to be gravelly 
or full of boulders, so that the conditions are decidedly xerophytic. 
In the three-cornered fight between the grasses, herbs and shrubs 
the golden rods and their allies are the first to succumb. 'They 
last only so long as the forest litter has not yet entirely disao- 
peared. When that has been accomplished the grass covers by far 
