-38- 
climax stage. 
II. THE MaPLE CLIML. 
This is the formation associated with vegetation- 
al development at the top of tho first range and over the 
ranges further south. Its mature form may be seen 100 m. south 
of the summit of the range (fig. 8). Here a 10 m. quadrat 
was laid out (fig. £3). It represents a stand of almost pure 
maple. The larger trees averaged about 4 m. apart, the forest 
canopy being rather dense for maple. The uniformity in the 
ages of several of the younger trees marked them out as the 
survivors of a single generation of seedlings. In fact, the 
presence of several dead saplings varying from 30 to 40 years 
suggested that these trees had already reached a critical 
period in their development. Thrifty specimens of Tilia 
and Ostrya were found just outside the limits of the quadrat. 
The soil at this point was a rich leaf mold of medium acidity. 
It was not deep, as indicated by the root systems of fallen 
trees, exposing the bare rock. Though the forest floor was 
comparatively open, immature shrubby vegetation was repre¬ 
sented by specimens of Kubus parviflorus and Sanbuous race - 
mo sa . The latter species gets to bo vayy large and rampant 
in maple windfalls, dominating the ground cover. The follow¬ 
ing are typical herbaceous species:- ^spidium spinulosum 
