THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 11 



our hill. Where do the bluest hepaticas grow? Where, the 

 pinkest wild roses? And for that matter ,the largest hickory- 

 nuts? On our barren thorn-infested Hill, of course. Nor are 

 these all. Adder's Tongues (Erythronium Aniericanum) 

 grow there on top of a great rock where any ordinary adder's 

 tongue would not think of growing. Early meadow rue 

 spreads the most delicate green drapery imaginable over the 

 loose stones which compose the greater part of the soil. The 

 pyrolas under the black birch, simply compel one to look at 

 their glossy leaves. So far as I know, they have never blos- 

 somed ; but that is all the more exciting, for I must keep close 

 w^atch so as not to miss them if they ever do. At every turn 

 one may see miterworts and false miterworts, cinquefoils and 

 bellworts, solomon seals and twisted stalks and many, many 

 others. Common things? Yes. But interesting, since they 

 grow where cows and thorns are supposed to hold sole pos- 

 session. Besides these, he who knows where to look, may even 

 find a single sickly but precious specimen of the much sought 

 ginseng (Aralia qiiinque folia). 



Ferns, too, have a place on Our Hill. Polypodies, ebony 

 spleenworts and bladder ferns may be found in more than one 

 place, while shield ferns are taller, broader, and darker green 

 than I have ever seen them elsewhere. Broad beech ferns are 

 abundant on Our Hill, which is their only station for miles 

 around. Of the grape ferns {Botrychium) four kinds have 

 been found, including the rare little B. simplex. However, I 

 suppose there is probably good reason for its growing on our 

 seculed Hill, it was probably trying to run away from its name 

 (which being bigger than the plant itself, is enough to frighten 

 it from ordinary localities) and so took refuge in our mullein 

 patch. But it couldn't escape that way, for I found it and 

 tagged it \\\t\\ enough Latin to last it the rest of its days. 



Yes, Our Hill produces better things than thorns. Does 

 Your Hill? Perhaps you think your locality is too common- 



