ii6 Bog-Trotting for Orchids 



The little swamp-like pockets along the summit of 

 the Domelet, where luxuriant trees locate the moisture 

 of springs, were formed, perchance, when a deeper lake 

 rolled over this peak. 



In ascending the Domelet, we drove around the 

 northern brow of the mountain, up by the County 

 Road, — frequently called the ** Dummy Road " in Pow- 

 nal, because a deaf and dumb man once lived in the 

 vicinity. Soon we turned oflf eastward, beyond the 

 Dummy Farm, through the low bushes, until we came 

 to a shad}^ vale. We unhitched our horses from the 

 wagon, and fastened them to trees; then we proceeded 

 to explore the hills and plains, carrying pails for 

 berries, and a basket and spade for collecting roots. 

 The flora of this region appeared luxuriant all along 

 the road, as well as over the ledges and plains. I 

 found great numbers of plants of the Pink Moccasin- 

 Flower (^Cypripedium acaule). The unusually large 

 leaves were of a deep dark green, with marked 

 veining. Many stems bore seed-pods, which were 

 the largest capsules for this species I have ever seen, 

 being an inch and a half long, with circumference in 

 proportion. 



The beautiful emerald-green leaves and bright ber- 

 ries of the lily, Clintonia borealis, were almost as com- 

 mon as the piles of sphagnum and the tall brakes and 

 ferns on the edges of these swamps ; yet everything 

 about recorded the ravages of the recent hailstorms. 

 Very few seed-capsules could have remained to mature 

 their seed this vSeason, as most of the plants were either 



