USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 5
USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 5
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Since Pursh's day there have been many enthusiastic botanists in the county, and it presents a remarkable field in its variations of altitude, rocks and soils. The salt marshes have marine plants, and the sphagnous swamps rare orehids and northern plants; the oak, beech and pine woods their special species ; the rivers and streams notable aquatie kinds, while the cliffs of lime- stone and slate are the haunts of other plants. The several long valleys, divided by high ridges. may be said to have each a local flora.
Perhaps the first systematie plant catalogue published here was that con- tained in Mr. Geddes's agricultural report of 1859. It is entitled "List of Weeds Troublesome to the Agriculturist in Onondaga," prepared by W. M. Beauchamp. Esq .. of Skaneateles. Though he collected the plants, the list was really prepared by his daughter, Miss Mary E. Beauchamp. It comprised but sixty-nine kinds, the wild asters, golden rod and some others not being distinguished by species, That it was a list of weeds only, also limited the range. Still. this young lady's work made a beginning.
In 1878, as the result of lectures by Rev. Samuel R. Calthrop. D. D., some ladies in Syracuse formed the Syracuse Botanical Club, which has kept up earnest and useful work ever since. Mrs. Stiles M. Rust (Mary Olivia) was the first president, for six years, succeeded by Mrs. L. L. Goodrich, who still holds the office. For a long time weekly excursions were made; sometimes more for those who could go, and in this way much was done, though the whole county could not be reached. Occasional aid was had from those who were not members. The result is that after so many years' labor, the club has an excellent herbarium in the rooms of the Onondaga Historical Associa- tion, and just presented to it. and a catalogue of Onondaga plants which should be published. A few species are yet in doubt, but these can be con- jecturally supplied. All that our space now allows is a synopsis.
Although the elub celebrated its twenty-first anniversary with the Rev. Dr. Beauchamp at Baldwinsvile. May 5. 1900, yet there was printed "A paper read before the Syracuse Botanical Club by one of its members, April. 1879." This was on the ferns of Onondaga, and the systematie list was accompanied by descriptive remarks. The list was of Polypodium one species. Phegopteris three. Pellaea two. Pteris one, Adiontum one. Woodwardia one, Camptosorus we, Scolopendrium one. Asplenium six and a variety, Dieksonia one, Cystop- teris two and a variety. Aspidium nine and four varieties, Struthiopteris one,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
Onoclea one and a variety, Osmunda three and a variety, Botrychium seven and four varieties, Ophioglossum one. To these some varieties may now be added, and Woodsia Ilvensis from Fabius, and Botrychium tenebrosum from Lysander, a new species growing in sphagnum.
The writer of this paper said: "We are rich in ferns. I doubt whether any county north can claim so many, while I know that many States further south can not. The main reason why we are so favored is that we have great variety of soil, high and low land, moist and dry, densely and thinly wooded, and so much limestone, which seems the favorite food of many species." Professor L. M. Underwood said: "In certain favored locations there is a marked diversity. As an instance, in one of the habitats of the rare hart's- tongue (green pond), the writer has collected twenty-three species, illustrating eleven genera within the radius of a thousand feet. Onondaga county, New York, possesses perhaps as many ferns as any county in the entire country, including forty-one species" (now forty-three). He did not allow one Botry- chium in the foregoing list, and two ferns he received afterward, both dis- covered here by the Rev. Dr. Beauchamp, near two opposite county lines.
Apropos of ferns, John Goldie, who reported Aspidium Goldieanum, one of our finest local species, was here in 1819. His journal is in print, but his botanical notes were lost by fire. There was no Syracuse then, and he stopped two days in Salina, which he did not like, saying: "I have never been in a more disagreeable and unhealthy place than this. At this time a number of people were siek with fever and ague, a disease which is always to be found here. If it were not for the salt works I believe this never would be a village. Salt forms the only circulating medium about this part of the country. When a person brings anything to be sold, the first question is 'how much salt will he take?' " It is probable that he did some botanizing there. but there is 110 mention of this in his journal.
No complete catalogue of Onondaga plants has yet been made, for every year sees some addition, but aside from algae, mosses, lichens and fungi, the true flora may embrace about thirteen hundred species, some of them rare. No list will be attempted here, but a summary will be given, with a few brief notes. It may be observed that while the old arrangement began with the higher forms, Britton's Flora, now largely used. more properly begins with the lower, which is the natural and scientific method. The new arrangement of scientific names perplexes many, and these will be avoided as far as pos- sible. The ferns have been already mentioned, and it may suffice to say that the chain fern has its place north of the Erie canal, and all the rock ferns south of it, though the common poly pody has been found sparingly on Seneca river. The wall rue fern may be now extinct here.
The Horsetail family ineludes five species here, and the club mosses four, popularly known as ground pine and running cedar. The pine family has three species of pines, once forming great forests of immense trees. Geddes men- tioned one cut down, in Camillus, which measured two hundred and thirty feet as it lay on the ground. In this family are the tamarack, black spruce, hemlock, balsam fir, arbor vitae or white cedar, juniper and red cedar, making
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
ten local species in this family. . The ground hemlock represents the yew family.
The Cattail family has two species here, one in immense beds. Two species also represent the bur-reed family. The pond-weeds may have fourteen species, but a dozen more belong to the Cayuga fiora, and probably to ours. The arrow-grass family may be credited with three species, and the water- plantains with five, including the common and variable Sagittaria, or arrow- head. Two or three species represent the tape-grass family. The grass family has not been accurately reported, but may have not far from ninety species, more or less. The sedges may reach eighty species.
The Arum family has six kinds, including Jack-in-the-pulpit, the pretty little calla, and the skunk cabbage. The first the Onondagas call the Indian era- dle. In the Duekweed family are four species. In the Pipewort family but one species has been reported. The Pickerel-weed family is represented by two species, the Rush family by about a dozen, to which others may be added. In the Bunch-flower family are three species, including two bellworts.
The Lily family has ten species here, of which some repay cultivation. The Lily of the valley family has fourteen species, and includes Trilliums, which have surprising variations. Four species of Trilliums belong to the county. In the Smilax family are three species, one being the carrion flower, a good descriptive name. The Iris family has two local species, one being the common blue-eyed grass.
The Cypripediums, or Moccasin flowers, include all six of the eastern United States species, mostly very handsome. The rare white variety of the stemless lady's slipper occurs at Beaver lake. The showy orchis is common and beautiful. Of the Habenarias eleven species have been reported, with two stations for Hooker's orchis. The white fringed orehis oceurs at Beaver lake, and propably in Cicero. Three Pogonias are found at Beaver lake. where the southern Listera is also found, a very rare plant so far north. The beautiful Arethusa and the swamp pink may be seen in several places. Helleborine (introduced) is one of the finds of the Botanical Club. There are four species of the ladies' tresses, and three of the rattlesnake plantains, with two species of tway blades. The coral roots are represented by three species, and the putty root, or Adam and Eve, by one. Thus the orchids of Onondaga are thirty-eight in number.
In the Lizard's-tail family is one species. The Walnnt family has seven local species, and the Bayberry two. The sweet fern might be expected, but has not been reported. Our six poplars belong to the Willow family, and of the willows alone there are seventeen species. In the Birch family are eight speeies, including the ironwoods and alders. The Beech family ineludes oaks and chestnuts, ten species in all. In the Elm are found four species, one of which is the rather rare hackberry, found at Baldwinsville. and elsewhere noticed. The Mulberry family includes three species, one of which is hemp. The hop may be added. The Nettle family has six species. In the Sandalwood family is but one species. The Birthwort family has the same, being the wild ginger. The Buckwheat family ineludes that, the doeks and smartweed, twenty-one species in all.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
The Goosefoot family has nine species here, among them the glasswort, or samphire of Onondaga lake. The Amaranth family has five local species. The Pokeweed represents its own family, and was valued as a dye by the Indians. We have but one carpet weed. The Purslane family is represented by this, and the pretty spring beauty. The Pink family has twenty species. needless to describe, possibly there are more. The Water Lily family includes four species, mostly north of the canal. One Hornwort only appears. The Magnolia family and two species, the eveumber and tulip trees.
Pawpaw trees were reported by Prush in 1807, near Three River point but no one else has mentioned them. In the Crowfoot family are thirty species. some rare. In the Barberry family are four species, the may apple belonging to this. But one species of the Moonseed family is found here. In the Laurel family are the spice bush and sassafras only. The Poppy family has nine local species. The Mustard family has thirty-four, and the Pitcher plant one, mostly north of the canal, where it abounds in sphagnum. In the Sundew family are two species of these curious plants. Both are found at Beaver lake. In the Orpine family are three species. perhaps more.
In the Saxifrage family seven species oeenr. These include the mitreworts and the grass of Parnassus. The Gooseberry family has seven species here. the Witchhazel but one. The Buttonwood alone represents its family. The . Rose family inelndes thirty-six species, some of which are berries. The Apple family has twelve species, including the thorns. The Plum family has six local species.
The Senna family has but two species here, one of them the Kentucky coffee tree. The Pea family has forty-six species, perhaps more. In the Geranium family are four species, and in the Woodsorrel two. The Flax family also has two. In the Rue family the prickly ash stands alone. The Polygala, or Milkwort family, has six species, some very pretty. The Spurge family has eight local species. In the Water Starwort family are two kinds. The False Mermaid alone represents its family. The Sumae family has five representatives, and a Holly three, perhaps more. The Staff Tree family is represented by the bittersweet and bladdernut. In the Maple family six species are reported, and the Buckeye family is represented by two.
The Balsam family has two species, and the Buckthorn three. In the grape family are three species, the Virginia creeper making a fourth. The Basswood represents its family. In the Mallow family are six species or more, one being the great swamp rose mallow. The St. John's-wort family includes seven speeies.
In the Rock Rose family are two species, and among the Violets are sixteen kinds or more. The Moosewood represents a family, but is rather rare. The Loosestrife family has two species, one of them very beautiful. The Meadow Beauty represents its family. The Evening Primrose family includes thirteen species, not all primroses. In the Water Milfoil family some species in Cayuga county may be looked for here. The Ginsengs have two representatives.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
The Carrot family has eighteen species, and probably more, one being troublesome. In the Dogwood family are eight species. The Wintergreen family has seven species, and the Indian-pipe family three. In the Heath family are seven species, including the azalea, swamp laurel, arbutus and true wintergreen. The Huckleberry family has eleven species, and the Primrose family eight kinds. The Olive family has five species, four being ash trees. In the Gentian family are seven kinds, including the fringed gentian and the small centaury. The Buekbean represents its family in bogs, and the Dogbane family has three species.
In the Milkweed family are seven species, the handsome butterfly weed being one. The Morning Glory family has three species, and the Dodder one or more. Phloxes have but two representatives, and the Water Leaf three. The Borage family ineludes eighteen local species, and the Vervains two. In the Mint family are thirty-six species, and in the Potato eight speeies. The Figwort family includes thirty kinds, among which are wild foxgloves and painted cups, with mulleins. The Bladderworts are but three. In the Broom- rape family are also three species. The Catalpa stands by itself.
The Plantain family has six species, one requiring salt. In the Madder family are eleven species, perhaps more. The Honeysuckle family ineludes nineteen, among which are elders and viburnums. In the Valerian family ap- pears but one kind, the Teasel family has two. The Gourd family has the same. In the Bellflower family are nine species, these ineluding four lobelias. The Chieory family has twenty-one species, perhaps more. The large thistle family has not far from a hundred, some of which are very handsome.
This chapter may well conelnde with some practical observations from Mr. Geddes's agricultural report on Onondaga county.
"From the first settlement of the county the 'oak lands,' as they are called by the farmers, have been proverbial for their ability to produce wheat, and that belt of land. onee covered with oak and hickory, is the true wheat land, while the beech and maple lands are best adapted to grazing, and the pine lands are generally well suited to both grain and grass. Dr. Em- mons has analyzed the ash of many specimens of forest trees, and gives, as the results eause for the sap wood, heart wood, outside bark and inside bark, in separate eolumns. His investigations are interesting, but would take too much room in this place, and will be used only to show the average percentage of potash and lime that he found in the outside wood of some of the kinds of timber growing in the three divisions of the county, viz: The northern, central and southern.
Potash.
Lime.
Northern division, represented by swamp white oak.
20.49
32.26
Northern division. represented by clm.
15.85
20.08
Middle division, represented by npland white oak.
13.41
30.85
Middle division, represented by hickory
7.47
38.26
Southern division. represented by beech.
12.13
31.56
Southern division. represented by sugar maple.
8.77
49.33
Southern division, represented by basswood.
10.12
41.92
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
"The swamp white and the elm abound in potash, while the upland white oak and hickory have much less. The beech, maple and basswood average but little more than teu per cent. of potash. The elm has only twenty per cent. of lime, while the swamp oak has over fifty-two. The low lands abound in potash and lime, but in the uplands there is much less potash."
Wood ashes, once unsparingly removed, would restore potash, where now lacking.
CHAPTER V.
ZOOLOGY, INCLUDING MOLLUSKS, FISHES, REPTILES, QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS.
MOLLUSKS.
In 1886 the Rev. W. M. Beauchamp issued a list of "Land and Fresh Water Shells of Onondaga County," which comprised one hundred and fifty-six mollusks. five of which were slugs, having a dorsal shield instead of a shell. IIelicodiscus lineatus is small and depressed, and has revolving lines. Maerocy- clis concava has a greenish white shell, and is carnivorous. Limax agrestis, tla- vus and campestris are garden slugs. Helix alternata. perspectiva and striatella ·have simple lips and a wide umbilieus. Helix labyrinthica monodon, palliata, tridentata, albolabris, thyroides, Sayii, and pulchella have thickened lips when mature mostly with teeth, Cionelle subcylindrica is cylindric and shining. and often abundant on sidewalks in Syracuse. Pupa pentodon, contracta and eorticaria are small and cylindric; the first two with teeth. Vertigo ovata, ventricosa, Bollesiana, Gouldie and simplex are similar. but smaller. The last has no teeth. Succinea ovalis, avara, obliqua and Totteniana are thin and almost amphibious. They are sometimes called amber shells. The following land snails have thin lips and shells. These are zonites fuliginosus. inornatus. intertextus, ligerus, nitidus, orboreus, viridulus, limatuhis, minuseulus. inden- tatus, multidentatus, fulvus, and some are minute. Tebennophorus Carolinen- sis is the large wood slug, and T. dorsalis is smaller. Carychium exignum is minute and thread-like.
The water snails follow, those without an opereulum coming first. Eleven species of the Linneas occur here, linneas stagnalis, two inches long, once abounding in Onondaga and Cross lakes. It is still found in Oneida lake. The other species are linneas columella, elodes, umbrosa, desidiosa, emerginata, eatascopium, caperata, umblicato, humilis and pallida. Two genera follow which revolve in an opposite direction. and are called Bubble shells. The first comprises physa aneillaria, heterostropha, gyrina and Niagarensis. The second is Bulinus hynorum, a slender shining shell, found in wet woods.
The genus Planorbis is of flat orbienlar shells. comprising Planorbis campanulatus, trivolvis. lentus, biearinatus, exaeutus, dilatatus. defleetus, albus and parvus. Allied to these is Sigmentina armigera. The freshwater limpets
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
are Aneylus rivularis and parallelus. The remaining fresh water snails close the aperture with an operenlun.
Valvata triearinata and sincera are small and depressed. Melantho decisus, integer and rufus are large, and usually green. Vivipara contectoides has recently become abundant in the canal, and is large. green and with red lines. Lioplax subearinatus, Bythinella obtusa, Gilia altitis and somatogyrus isogonus are all small cana shells. Bythinia tentaculata, a European species found by Dr. Beauchamp at Oswego in 1879, is now abundant in the canal. The genus Amnicola has minute shells. Those here are annicola sayana, Cin- vinnatiensis, orbiculata. porata, pallida, limosa, lustrica and grana. Very handsome are the slender shells of the general Pleurocera and Goniobasis. The species are l'. subulare, intensum, pallidumn, G. liveseens, depygis, Hal- demani, gemma and Virginiea. The last is very variable.
Two genera of quite small bivalves succeed. The first comprises Sphaerium simile, fabale, striatinum, occidentale, partumeinm, trineatuen, teansversuen, seenre, solidulum, stamineum; the second Pisidium compressum, variabile abditum, Noveboraeense, Virginicum and ferruginenm.
The following are usually called elam shells. Unio has marginal and cardinal teeth. The species are unio alatus, cariosus, eomplanatus, gracilis, iris, ligamentinus, luteolns. Novi-Eboraci, occidens, parvus. pressus, radiatus, rectus, rosacens, ruhiginosus, siliquoideus, Tappanianus, undulatus. ventrico- sus. Margaritana has no cardinal teeth. The species are margaratina marginata, regosa, undulata. margaritifera. Anodunta has no teeth. The species are anodonta benedietii, decora, edentula, Ferussaciana, Footiana, fluviatilis. fra- gilis, imbecillis, laenstris. Lewisii, pavonia, Pepiniana, salmonia, subeylindra- cea, simpsoniana, undulata and Williamsii. Some are very large and handsome.
FISH AND FISHING.
Prehistoric fishing in Onondaga county was largely done by spearing. though the net was employed, flat stone sinkers being common beside rivers and shallow lakes. Bone hooks were sparingly used. so that deep water fishing was rare, indeed. Even in rivers the shallow rifts were commonly sought, as favoring spearing, and at these stone fish-weirs were often constructed front shore to shore, with bays forming acute angles. The remains of many of these may yet be seen, and one, four miles west of Baldwinsville, is in perfeet condition, except for the removal of part of the wall near the northern shore, to permit the passage of boats. In the Lessee treaty of 1787-88, the second reservation made by the Indians was "one-half of the falls, and convenient places for weirs, for the purpose of eatching fish and eels from Cross lake to the Three Rivers." From there to Oneida lake they had equal rights in fishing.
After the Moravians. Zeisberger and Frey, had crossed Oneida lake. August 6. 1753, they entered the river and said: "A short distance down the river we met quite a number of Onondagas fishing. They were much
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
pleased to have us come to them so unexpectedly. They had a fish dam there which closed the river quite. Chief Hatachsoen, to whom the fishery belongs, at once came to us and made an opening so that we could proceed. . . We continued and came to a fishery where we met Chief Gajagaja, who told us about the war. He complained of hunger, and said he could eateh nothing in his fish dam."
They afterward visited the fisheries on the Seneca river, and what they saw does not support the communal theory: "It is plain to be seen that they have much order in all their affairs. For instance, each one has his own place, where he is permitted to fish, and no one is allowed to encroach upon his part. A chief is appointed to each fishing place, and he has his people, who belong to him."
In 1654 Father LeMoyne said "Onondaga lake abounds with fish-with salmon, trout and other fish." In the same lake the following year, Father Chaumonot said : "Beside the fish which are taken there at different times of the year, the eel is so abundant there in the autumn that some take with a harpoon as many as a thousand in a single night." Nor did the French fare badly going up the Oswego river in July, 1656. After taking twenty large salmon in the night, next day "our men took. in going along, thirty-four other salmon by strokes of oars and swords; there was so great a quantity of them we could strike them without trouble." What a sensation it would make now!
Another note on fishing appears in the Relation of 1657. The waters did not fail, said the writer, of a fertility entirely their own. "The fish which are most common here are the eel and salmon, which are fished for from the spring till the end of autumn, our savages managing so well their dykes and their weirs that they take there at the same time the eel which is going down. and the salmon which is coming up. They take the fish in another way in the lakes. spearing it with a trident by the light of a bituminous fire which they keep on the end of their canoes." This will be mentioned again.
One of the most interesting journals relating to Onondaga county in pioneer days, is that of Francis Adrian Vanderkemp, LL. D., who afterward did valuable work for the State in translating early Dutch records. He came from Holland, and in 1792 made a boat trip from Rome, New York, to Oswego and the shores of Lake Ontario, visiting the Frenchman on his island on the way. To literary acquirements he added those of a naturalist ; we might say of an epicure, so toothsome were the repasts he describes. He was in search of a forest home for himself and friends, and nothing escaped his eye in woods and waters. Our tastes might differ. Thus he called a certain stream flowing into Oneidla lake, "the Fresh Lobster creek, from the numbers we caught there of this delicious crustaceous fish, even superior to the sea lobster, and as exquisite a dainty as those in Guelderland and the Dutchy of Cleves-which affords there "such a sumptuous and palatable dish to the modern descendant of Apicius." And yet our only use for these delicacies is as bait for black bass.
Salmon, he said, were abundant. "One Oneyda Indian took with his spear . forty-five salmon within an hour; another, in the presence of Captain Simonds sixty-five during one night, and another eighty." He had little idea of modern
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
appetites and population, however, when he said: "Was the method of catch- ing the salmon in fuyks and smoaking these introduced, as I advised several, with the offer of initiating them in this mystery. Oneyda lake with its tribu- tary streams might supply an abundant provision for all the States, the West Indian market, that of South America inelnded."
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