360 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



At the western end of the railroad tunnel at Millboro, Bath County, 

 lies one of the most fascinating spots in which it has been my fortune 

 to botanize. The geological formation is entirely of this shale. 

 The tunnel opens into a recess in the mountain, and the road after- 

 following the side of this a short distance passes over a deep valley 

 by what is known as the "Big Fill." The situation is sufficiently 

 picturesque, but the fascination chiefly lies in the unique content of 

 the plant covering. Here within an area of perhaps half a square 

 mile, with much up and down, occur, besides an abundance of the 

 until recently little known Oenothera argillicola and Eriogonum 

 allenii, at least a dozen native species thus far unknown to northern 

 manuals, six or eight of them entirely undescribed. Oddly enough a 

 rare introduction occurs along the railroad at the same spot, together 

 with a second (true Lactuca scariola) not very common in the East. 



Not all of the dozen species referred to are peculiar to this sub- 

 stratum, but probably half of them are so. The Oenothera argillicola 

 and Eriogonum allenii are very characteristic plants, yet they grow 

 only in certain special situations, namely, on shale cliffs or cliff-like 

 places and denuded clay banks. They are very fond of railroad 

 embankments. 



In 1910 I made good collections, chiefly of golden-rods and asters, 

 in Garrett County, Maryland, from which a pleasing aster may be 

 published at once. The country here is a hilly plateau with much 

 good farming land. There is a wide difference between the flora of 

 this region and that of the mountains farther south, due to altitude, 

 latitude, and soil. 



Collections made in 1909 in Wisconsin and Indiana in connection 

 with a Laciniaria expedition enable me to set at rights one Solid ago 

 long imperfectly known and to introduce another wholly undescribed. 

 A visit to central Illinois in August, 1910, primarily for other pur- 

 poses, admitted of considerable collecting and observation. The 

 opinion already entertained was confirmed that the State of Illinois 

 has never been thoroughly collected over in a modem sense. Besides 

 the fine new golden-rod and evening primrose here presented, other 

 critical material was obtained which awaits later disposition. 



I take this opportunity to call attention to the botanical situation 

 in the nearer West, in the hope of arousing some active interest in 

 preserving the record of a unique and interesting flora fast passing 

 away and perhaps also in the maintenance of some living remainders 

 of the flora itself. In the Eastern States some native plants will 

 become scarce, but few will become entirely extinct. The same oan 

 not be said of Illinois. The difference is due to two circumstances: 

 First, the natural conditions admit of a well-nigh universal and 

 highly destructive agriculture; second, many of the native species 

 can not maintain themselves where the original conditions have been 



