166 
NOTES ON THE FOREST SCENERY OF NORTH AMERICA. 
with pines, red cedars, and scrub oaks. The swampy grounds abound with white 
cedars ( Cupressus thyoides), and around the borders of the swamps, the Magnolia 
glauca, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum, with many varieties of Azalea 
viscosa, Andromedas, &c, are seen in great abundance. 
Proceeding from New York by steam-boat up the Hudson River towards 
Albany, the scenery is romantic and varied, both from the irregularity of surface 
and from the ornamental nature of the trees which in many parts grace its banks. 
Leaving the city upon our right, we dash along as if on the surface of a lake, no 
outlet being seen, from the innumerable twists and turns which the river takes. 
The banks for many miles up are covered with brushwood, the larger trees having 
been mostly cut down. On the left, which is the New Jersey side, the land for 
many miles is very bold, having shelving rocks, towering 300 feet above the river, 
and clothed with red cedars. 
At Tappan Sea, twenty-five miles up, the river attains a considerable breadth. 
On the right the land is laid out in fields for the cultivation of grain. Many apple 
and pear orchards are mingled with these fields, and produce a curious effect from 
the trees being placed at regular distances, and having large tufted round tops. 
Passing West Point, fifty miles from New York, the scenery assumes quite a 
Highland appearance ; the hills are seen elevated high above the waters, and their 
round summits densely studded with cedars ; two miles further up, the scenery is 
changed from a highland to that of a lowland description ; and many cultivated 
farms are again seen extending back into the country on both sides. On the most 
worthless spots by the river side, for the last forty miles, red cedars were predo- 
minant ; and where soil existed in any quantity, oaks were interspersed. 
About Hampton, sixty-seven miles up, we got into a great limestone country ; 
and the change from the dark hue of the red cedar to the fine lively green of the 
Arborvitae {Thuja occidentalis) , is at once most striking. These trees are all 
self-sown over the surface of the rocks and along the water's edge; in general 
they are finely shaped pyramidal specimens, varying from one to twenty feet in 
height. 
At Poughkeepsie, still farther up on the right, a difference begins to show 
itself, the grounds being now ornamented with a few exotic trees, or mixed with 
the indigenous ones are seen the Huntingdon and weeping willows, with Lombardy 
poplars ; all much planted by the proprietors, both by the water's edge, and inter- 
spersed amongst the native woods. 
Passing Hyde Park to Bhinbeck, the same spirit for planting a few ornamental 
trees seems to have prevailed ; and among them were catalpas, which at this 
season of the year (July), presented an interesting appearance, from the quantity 
of flowers which they displayed. Here, for the first time, the Catskill Mountains 
are seen towering high upon the left at a great distance. They are evidently 
wooded to the summit. Continuing onwards, on both sides, many beautiful 
residences are passed ; and the cultivated land extends, with well-defined edges, to 
the river, till within a mile of Albany, where the river gets much broken with 
islands, and the banks become low, but not destitute of that shade which is so 
characteristic of American scenery. 
