Mountain and Forest Rambles, 201 



are both perfectly visible. I had often before admired these 

 massive and rocky points of upheaved land from the lovely 

 town of Burlington ; how soon it was to be my privilege 

 to tread the heights of the loftiest and to inspect its floral 

 wonders ! 



Having, after some interruptions, succeeded in making the 

 acquaintance of the excellent host of our inn, James M.. 

 Dodge, whom we cordially recommend to all botanists and 

 tourists, we agreed on an early start. Accordingly, under 

 the bright setting moon of the next morning, we rode to the 

 mountain's foot and set out on the ascent by a sharp ridge or 

 spur, which served as some indication of our route. We 

 passed thro'ugh a patch of Indian wheat, a variety of Buck- 

 wheat, (Fagopyrum esculentum,) just then beginning to 

 ripen, and through the tall heavy English grasses of the 

 farm, filled with dew. It was now six A, M., and near five 

 thousand feet were to be risen before we should tread the 

 summit. On entering the Avoods, the Impatiens pallida in 

 luxuriant growth and full flower greeted us. Intent on the 

 observation of other plants we gave little heed to the usual 

 concomitants of a mountain forest. We trod heedlessly and 

 I fear ruthlessly on many a delicate oxalis, and similar indi- 

 cations of the rich moist soil. The tall, stout trunks of 

 various deciduous trees grew closer and closer, and their 

 lofty branches excluded the sun. We had as yet struck no 

 path, and depended on the skill of our guide. 'Twas our's 

 to look, lens in hand, for lichens ; 'twas his to show us the 

 upward and best way. We were busy ; and he was all that 

 we could ask. Armed with a large provender basket he 

 strode in our advance, with that careless, easy gait, so pecu- 

 liar to those born in mountain districts, anon resting on some 

 prostrate log or jutting rock to await our slower or tardier 

 approach. As we rose by degrees to higher points the char- 

 acter of the plants indicated our locale. Here was iifypnum 

 crista castrense spread out in feathery beauty and laden with 

 capsules. There was fl'ypnum umbratum clothing some 

 shady rock. On reaching the spruce, the tops of the sur- 

 rounding mountains could be discerned, and we could realize 



VOL. XVIII. — -NO. V. 26 



