MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
47 
are smallest in size. The bog type stands next both in distribution and 
size, while the hardwood, altlio largest in size is least widely distributed. 
No pine stands remain as such at the present time. 
CLIMATE. 
There are no weather bureau stations in the immediate vicinity, but 
those at St. Ignace, Charlevoix and Cheboygan, Michigan, will give an 
idea of the meteorology. The data is exprest grafically in Plates 3 and 
4. The region lies between these stations, but the weather conditions 
are probably more nearly like those of Cheboygan than of the other 
stations. 
The climatic factors act in a broad way, and altlio the vegetation is 
an expression of the integration of climatic and edapliic factors it does 
not always appear so, as the factors are measured at the present time. 
In general the winters are long, persistently cold, with quite a little 
snow. During the summer the days are hot, while the nights are cool. 
Precipitation is more than sufficient to support tree growth. It is most 
abundant during winter and spring. The long dry period during the 
summer and fall, altlio not in itself very seriously interfering with the 
development of the trees, assumes considerable importance in paving 
the way for Are — the bane of the development of the region. 
THE VEGETATIONAL HISTORY OF THE REGION. 
The region has been glaciated repeatedly. The present surface drift 
is largely sand. With the retreat of the glaciers, vegetation appeared and 
developt to a temporary climax for the soil types. The better uplands 
were covered by the hardwood forest of beech, sugar maple, and hemlock 
which graded into pine on the poorer soils. The greater part of the pine 
land was occupied by Pin) is resinosa (Norway Pine) and Pi tins strobns 
(White Pine), but the worst land was originally covered with Pimis 
banhsiama. The moist lowlands were cedar bogs. There were no signs 
of prairie vegetation. 
Then came the period of the lumberman and with him fire. Without 
exception the pine land was cut clear and if, perchance, any part escapt 
cutting the fire took it. With only a few exceptions the hardwoods 
also were cut and the cut-over land burnt. A few areas, however, which 
were not cut, give an idea of their former appearance. For the most 
part the cedar bogs were cut over but usually they were not so damaged 
by fire. 
The immediate result of the clearing was the installation of a new 
vegetation cycle. Fireweeds sprang up in abundance but their domi- 
nance on a given area seldom lasted more than a year or two. E pi-lob in m 
angustifolium and Erechtites hieracifolius were the most abundant fire 
weeds. Climatic conditions were entirely suitable for trees and trees 
appeared — but very few in the first year, but increasing in numbers in 
the following years. For the most part these trees were aspens (Pop- 
ulus tremulokles in the moister soil and Populus y ran di den ta l a, in the 
drier land), birch (Bctula alba papyri f era) and pin or fire cherry 
( Primus pennsylvaniea) . The vegetation of the forest floor consisted 
of an abundance of Ptcris aquilina, Diervilla lonicera and such plants 
as withstood the fire and remained as relics of the previous association. 
