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S.MITEISONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 63 



spruce and balsam forest covering the higher slopes. This primeval 

 forest, which resembles in its general appearance those of the Rocky 

 Mountains, unfortunately seems destined to disappear in the near 

 future ; indeed, it has already been removed from a large area, and 

 desolation left in its stead. It is deeply to be regretted that as Mount 

 Mitchell is made more accessible by the railroad its chief beauty will 

 be destroyetl. 



A single night was spent on the summit of the mountain. A cabin 

 was l)uilt here and maintained by the State some years ago, but it is 

 now al)andone(l and has fallen into decay. At the summit of Mount 



Fk;. 45. — Anilk-ial fountain near JJlack xMuuntam, North Carolina. It is fed 

 from a reservoir on a neighboring mountain. Photograph by Standley. 



Mitchell is a monument which marks the grave of the man whose 

 name it bears, who lost his life while engaged in exploring its slopes. 

 From this point at sunrise a wonderful view is obtained of the vast 

 mass of mountains which cover the adjacent region, their valleys 

 filled with a sea of clouds above which the higher peaks rise like 

 rugged islands. 



A small collection of plants was made upon the peak, a locality 

 whose flora is little known. The flora, strangely enough, is not par- 

 ticularly interesting, for it includes but few species. The vegetation 

 is remarkable chiefly for the large number of introduced plants it 

 includes. These have doubtless been transported by the visitors who 

 ascend the mountain each year. In spite of the altitude of Mount 



