The Flora of the Adirondacks. 77 



and interesting plants are to found in this little belt of 

 sphagnum. Among the most beautiful are the Arethusa 

 JBulbosa, an interesting and highly ornamental plant, con- 

 sisting of a simple leafless scape, surmounted by a bright 

 purple fragrant flower, the throat richly bearded within. 



The Pogonia Ophioglossoides resembles the arethusa in 

 appearance, but the flower is of a paler purple and the 

 scape is furnished with a single bract-like leaf. The 

 Calopogon Pulchellus with its half dozen fragrant and elegant 

 purple flowers crowning its grass-like stalk, if not as deli- 

 cate as the arethusa is far more brilliant and conspicuous. 

 The white and purple fringed orchis are conspicuous for 

 beauty, and the large white and yellow ladies' slippers grow 

 where the mould of the woods meets the sphagnum. 

 These are but a part of the rarest and fairest species found 

 within this little space, of less than two acres. There 

 are many grasses and sedges, mosses and aquatic plants 

 which we need not stop to mention. 



Leaving this little pond and its rare collection of plants 

 we may strike directly for the Alpine region, which we 

 can only reach by many hours of toilsome travel over 

 roads rough with rocks and logs, and through hamlets, 

 whose inhabitants gain a scanty livelihood by the rude 

 culture of a few acres of stony land or by the more primi- 

 tive means of the chase. As we approach the great 

 mountains we are almost overpowered by the majesty of 

 the scenery. Let it not be supposed by those who have 

 not visited this region that there are no mountains but in 

 Switzerland, or that we are to look for sublimity in 

 American mountain scenery only among the Rocky 

 mountains. Here, too, we have a grandeur of mountain 

 scenery which can be felt but must be witnessed to be 

 appreciated. Mount Marcy and Mclntyre, Nipple top, 

 and McMartin, Dix peak and Whiteface, each a mile 

 high, are some of the points which tower above the sur- 



