156 Rhodora. | [JuNx. 
the writer started up the rocky bed of the brook to explore. After a 
mile or more we were out of the woods, the brook and its bed disap- 
peared, and we found ourselves ascending the steep slope of the 
mountain (which on this side forms a wall of the Basin), and 
absorbed by the alpine plants which grew profusely about. I think 
the rain still continued at intervals, but it made no difference They 
were April showers which only made the flowers brighter and more 
beautiful. 
The Heaths were conspicuous and almost all in flower. Cassiope 
was there with delicate mossy stems and white flowers. "The rosy 
nodding flowers of Bryanthus were profuse and attractive. Zois- 
curia was perhaps as abundant, but less conspicuous. There were 
on the ledges the curious convex tufts of the Déapensia, with even 
surface, but with large white flowers projecting, like pins and orna- 
ments from a pincushion. Of the Vacciniums we collected V. Vitis- 
idaea, V. uliginosum and V. caespitosum. We found Viola palustris 
here and at other points, always with flowers white. 
Near the top of the ascent or slope we stopped to drink from a 
cold spring. Here we collected Lycopodium sitchense, and Salix her- 
bacea with the little staminate catkins just in flower. Alnus viridis, 
too, was just expanding its staminate catkins. But as usual the 
Alpine Rhododendron had gone by thus early. 
These slopes, up one of which we thus climbed, come to a distinct 
termination and are succeeded, at a step, by a nearly level upland 
grassy or sedgy plateau between the North and the West Peak or 
summit. The edge of this plateau and the adjoining upper slopes 
were fairly carpeted with Arctostaphylos alpina, which was very full 
of green fruit. It was not late when we reached this ** Saddle," 
and we could easily have gone to the summit, but we preferred to 
take another day for that. So we ate our lunch, wandered about 
over the great plain, enjoying the view and the strong fresh wind 
which came out of the West, and made our way down a neighboring 
slope, which had been recently converted into a * Slide," and thence 
by way of the brook, seasonably and triumphantly to Camp. 
The next morning, Tuesday, July 10, some of the party thought 
that they discovered assuring signs of fair weather and started for 
the summit, but toward noon it rained as hard as ever, and the 
afternoon was spent in camp. With our load of plants already col- 
lected there was plenty there to keep us busy. 
