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might look quite attractive in a future housing development. Logging trails, though rutted and muddy, offer a basis for future easy access. If Col. McNear could arrange a change in zoning?...
Large oaks and white pines have been logged, their discarded tops remaining among the ruined debris of the smaller trees among which they fell. The understory, with its ferns and wild flowers, has, for the time at least,. been hvjpred. And there is the start of an decedent crop of the imported pest, Japanese honeysuckle, and of the imported pest, Ailanthus trees, all set to take over and interrupt the process of natural succession by which this disturbed forest could return toward its native state. A beautiful little mountain stream has been left, its ferns buried in the debris of fallen trees, mud, and a pile of discarded oil, beer, and soft drink cans. The scene here does not augur well for the future protection of the former Park land just acquired by Col. McNear and his associates.
So what is to be lost if the land adjoining mine is to be despoiled? A report has been written by the Park Service, signed by Regional Director Richard Stanton and dated May 17, 1978, which evaluates the merits of the transfer of land into and out of the Park. Let me quote from the description of the land next to mine, the same land described by Mr. Adamson as "lousy land”.
“At the base of the northern slope, one finds a good mature cove hardwood forest (there are much larger stands in the Park, however) with the tulip tree as a dominant species and basswood (Tilia americana) and ash (F. americana) as codominants. ” (Emphasis mine. Is small size an overriding consideration?)
“The northeast facing cove has the best timber stand seen in any of the four tracts. There are no signs of human impact such as old stumps. A nice stand of mature tulip tree (about 60-70 years old) with associated red oak is present, probably filling a large opening created by the loss of chestnut. Old chestnut logs are common on the north and east slopes. A couple of older tulip trees and very old oaks are present. Some very old white pine bases were observed, one with a fire scar.”
“This tract, in particular the shady rock outcroppings and mature cove hardwood forest, has the greatest potential of the four tracts examined for containing species which are rare within the Park.”
"The cliff area, on the other hand, could be of even greater value as habitat. Three species of rare spleenworts (pinnatifid, Bradleys, and blackstem) and the mountain club moss
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