Mountain and Forest Rambles. 199 



In similar places, and lining the banks of some little 

 mountain brook, may be found Kalmm latifolia in profusion ; 

 and prostrate on the rolled pebbly beaches of the larger 

 streams, the Sand Cherry (Cerasus puniila) delights. As 

 almost every hillside gushes forth in cold springs of water, 

 the Wild Ginger (vl^sarum canadense) finds shelter under 

 the decaying leaves of the forest, the exquisite O'rchis spec- 

 tabilis pushes up great tufts of leaves and blossoms ; and 

 beautiful ferns and green liverworts, and rich Peltigeras are 

 scattered around. The curious Squaio root (Conopholis amer- 

 icana) was found last summer ; and the beautiful Aplectrum 

 hiemale occurs. In the Connecticut River several species of 

 Potamogetons will be found ; and on the stones of its bed, 

 clings the remarkable Podostemum ceratophyllum. The 

 broad leaves of the Coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara) succeed the 

 bright yellow blossoms, which welcome the spring under 

 some sheltered bank, and many the profusely flowering asters, 

 which in latest autumn accompany the departing year. Of 

 other and minuter vegetation, which fell under my cognizance 

 in these Jianging gardens of nature, I dare not venture 

 mention, lest I trespass on stricter botanical limits ; suffice, 

 that would any reader of mine wish to know more iii that 

 quarter, let him make excursion to this mountain town, let 

 him seek acquaintance of C. C. Frost, who, among other 

 rarities, can show him where he found the tiny and lovely 

 little Lycopo^dium a^pus, the native representative of that 

 Helvetian co-species, which is cultivated with sedulous care 

 in our greenhouses under the name of Lycopodium denticu- 

 latum. 



Desirous, however, of more thoroughly examining the Cryp- 

 togamic flora of the State, and indeed, turning my attention 

 in botanical matters almost exclusively in that direction, I set 

 out with this gentleman (who can make you a good pair of 

 boots or shoes in as trusty a manner as he can give you the 

 name or the locality of a plant he may have studied in mo- 

 ments won from his bench to recruit his body and his mind) 

 to visit some of the Green Mountain range. Taking the 

 Vermont Central Railroad on the 11th August last, we rapidly 



