232 i BOTANICAL EXCURSION 
dairy-house built over a cold brook or spring, by which the 
milk and butter are kept cool and sweet in the warmest 
weather, 
We botanized for several days upon the mountains in the 
immediate neighbourhood of Jefferson, especially the Negro 
Mountain, which rises abruptly on one side of the village; 
the Phenix Mountain, a sharp ridge on the other side; and 
the Bluff, a few miles distant in a westerly direction. The 
altitude of the former is probably between four and five thou- 
sand feet above the sea; the latter is apparently somewhat 
higher. They are all composed of mica-slate ; and we should 
remark that we entered upon a primitive region immediately 
upon leaving the Valley of Virginia. The mountain-sides, 
though steep or precipitous, are covered with a rich and deep 
vegetable mould, and are heavily timbered, chiefly with 
chestnut, white oak, the tulip-tree, the cucumber-tree, and 
sometimes the sugar-maple. Their vegetation presents 5° 
little diversity, that it is for the most part unnecessary to dis- 
particular localities. Besides many of the plants 
already mentioned, and a very considerable number of nor- 
Species which we have not room to enumerate, We 
collected, or observed on the mountain-sides, Clematis Viorna, 
in great abundance; Tradescantia Virginica; Iris cristata m 
fruit; Hedyotis (Amphiotis) purpurea, which scarcely deserves ` ` 
the name, since the flowers are commonly almost white; 
Phlox paniculata? Aristolochia Sipho, without flowers or fruit; 
Ribes Cynosbati, rotundifolium Michz., (R. triflorum Willd.) 
and prostratum, (L'Hér.) ; Allium cernuum, and tricoccum " 
aphylla ; Ligusticum acteifolium, the strong-scented 
roots of which are eagerly sought for and eaten by boys 
hogs s+ the Ginseng, here called sang, (the roots of which af 
less pies a ps throughout this region by the name of Ramps, doubt- 
* itis here ch » the popular appellation of 4. ursinum in 
SE Se Kë y 
c MARC TEE p E EUR. e T V 
