ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 95 



SOME FUXGI OF BLOWING ROCK, X. C. 



BY GEORGE F. ATKINSON AND HERMANN SCHRENK. 



During the month of August for the summers of 1888 

 and 1889 it was the good fortune of the senior author of 

 this paper to spend tliat time in the enjoyment of the 

 invigorating atmosphere and famous scenic beauty of this 

 point in the Western North Carolina mountains. 



To the greater number of tlie readers of this Journal 

 Blowing Rock is not unknown. It ma\' be a matter of 

 interest to others to know that this now fast becoming 

 popular summer resort is found in Watauga count)-, and is 

 reached by "staging if twenty miles up the mountain 

 from a point, Lenoir, the northern terminus of the Ches- 

 ter & Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad, wdiich connects with 

 the main line of travel from the east and west at Hickory, 

 on the Western North Carolina Railroad.* 



Even a botanist can cherish commendable curiosity, on 

 his first trip to the place, concerning its '' entitlements^ 

 Upon reaching the summit near the village one is sped 

 through an unpretentious drive of nearly one mile when 

 the road curves to evade a steep hill. Here is suddenly 

 presented to view the grand panorama of the great John's 

 River valley below and the lofty peaks of the Black Moun- 

 tains be\ond. 



When one has become disengaged from travelling para- 

 phernalia, and when rest and refreshments have dispelled 

 fatigue, there comes an irresistible desire to join others in 

 the pilgrimage to the ''Rock." Once there the meaning 

 of ''Blowing Rock" becomes apparent. The rock juts 

 out upon the west side of the cliff, forming a bold precipice at 

 the north-east of the John's River valley. The currents of 

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