The largest poplars observed must have been over two feet in diameter at the base & of good height. Average size of many groves about 18". Oak seldom over two feet. Birch about the same as a maximum but generally much less & very tall.
Fires evidently occur very frequently, & sweep over the areas where a sufficient depth of vegetable matter & peaty soil has accumulated. This prevents the average size of the trees from being great, & tends to induce the growth of poplar & such quick growing trees. Some cases were observed however in which a fire passing through rapidly had been sufficient to kill nearly all the poplars, while the oaks had escaped from the protection if their thick barks. The young growth on burned areas generally appeared to be poplar, forming dense thickets of saplings. In some places however oak scrub prevailed.
Most of the swamps are grassy & would yield excellent hay. They are fringed with willows of various species of which the rough barked willow attains a considerable size.

Most of the underwood is composed of hazles, choke-cherries & thorns, also roses raspberries &c. Peas & vetches are abundant & occur with Epilobium & yarrow species of aster & Solidago.

The soil is usually deep & rich & based on a whitish marl subsoil of drift. The arable area amounts to a considerable part of the whole, but the chief value of the "Mountain" will be as a supply of timber for the fertile plains around it.