114 



itself from that centre. During the four years of the war, it made 

 great progress through the country in all directions, especially along 

 the lines of railroads, and by the movement of cavalry through the 

 country woods. It is now all over our streets, and in waste-places, 

 but not as conspicuous as the other weeds, as it is kept well cropped 

 by animals. 



I said there was something like rotation observable in the pre- 

 dominance of these** domesticated weeds." Not many years ago, the 

 Florida coffee, Cassia occidentalism was perhaps the most abundant 

 weed about the streets and waste-places. Maruta Cotula (wild 

 chamomile) was also very common. Both of these have de- 

 creased in quantity, and seem to be on the decline, or at least not able 

 to struggle against those which now have posssession. Is the rota- 

 tion due to natural causes, viz., the exhaustion of the soil by one 

 plant, and its rest and restoration by others? Or is it the result of 

 greater potency in the conquering plant ? Are these champions now 

 in possession to hold their guard until displaced by a superior race, 

 or will they be compelled by natural causes to give way to a n^w race 

 of settlers ? 



Aiken, S. C. 



H. W. Ravenel. 



Notes on the White Mountains Flora. — A note concerning Mr. 



Prime's collections in this valley reported in the Bulletin for 

 August, induces me to send you a few lines in regard to my own ob- 

 servations. I have been here since early in July, and have kept a 

 record of all the plants, whether in fruit or flower, that I chanced to 

 . I have also collected quite largely. When I first came, the 

 charming Linnaea was in its beauty, forming odorous mats on the 

 banks of the Copper Mine Brook. Under the pines, too, I had the 

 pleasure of gathering Moncses tmiflora for the first time. Character- 

 istic regional plants that I have since found have been Pyrola minor 

 and Geu7n fnacrophyllum. Near Bridal Veil Falls I came upon a nice 

 lot of Habenaria orbiciilata. Near the famous Flume I gathered 

 quite a quantity of Habenaria dilaiata. The character of the vege- 

 tation is extremely boreal, much like that of New Brunswick. 

 Oxahs acetosella^ Clintonia borealisy Tiarella cordifolia^ Streptopus of 

 both species, and Trilliums abound. The prevalent Solidagonow in 

 bloom in the valley is S. arguta. S. thyrsoidea is to be found up the 

 brook, where I also have my eye on several JVabaii, I have not yet 

 climbed to alpine heights, but have been surprised to find how high 

 up grow the common yarrow and Aralia hispida. I also find Micro- 

 stylis monophyllos at a considerable elevation. 



_ There are no oaks or chestnuts here, nor sassafras. The almost 

 primeval forests are made up of giant pines, rising to over a hundred 

 feet and then feathering out into foliage; birches, beeches, ashes, 

 mountain-ashes, larches and spruces. There are magnificent speci- 

 mens of all these. 



The prevalent weed here is the yarrow {Achillea millefolium); 

 the ox-eye daisy is very rare. On the other hand, Rudbeckia hirta is 

 common. I have seen but one specimen of Lappa major. There 

 are no wild roses or grapes. But two clumps of Adianium pedatum 

 have as yet turned up, and I have seen no rare ferns. 



