zWAl SMITHSONIAN 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 
\itchell is made more accessible by the railroad its chief beauty will 
be destroyed. 
A single night was spent on the summit of the mountain. A cabin 
was built here and maintained by the State some years ago, but it is 
now abandoned and has fallen into decay. At the summit of Mount 
Fig. 45.—Artificial fountain near Black Mountain, 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. 
Irom 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 
