534 Plants seen about the Region of the Notch. 



had interested himself in these offerings to Flora, and even 

 had made some advances in pomological science and industry 

 from year to year ; proofs of which he exhibited to me in 

 renovated trees and vigorous grafted branches upon the old 

 apple stocks, and in a few good looking dwarf pears, which 

 seemed likely to endure the severe winters of the place. 



These moiuitain streams, though less affected by the con- 

 tingencies of the seasons than those of the lower and more 

 level country, yet are sensibly diminished in volume of water 

 during continued dryness, or are rapidly swollen by the 

 showers which sweep over the summits of the hills, where 

 the springs which feed them take their rise. A medium 

 stage of water seems to be more favorable in developing 

 their beauty, where there is enough of that element 

 to partially conceal the contour of the rock strata. It is 

 then, that whatever flowers or plants are perceptible around 

 their dizzy brink, or are nestled in their dripping crevices, 

 wear a bright, cheerful, and fresh aspect, as if in the enjoy- 

 ment of that vigor and cleanliness which we ought to expect 

 under such circumstances. Purity is involuntarily associated 

 with water ; and a plant seems as much injured from its 

 contact with mud, leaves and the refuse of a flood borne 

 down upon it, as do higher organized beings, whose exteriors 

 do not evince that acquaintance with the salubrious qualities 

 of water which wisdom or discretion would prompt. There 

 are some species of the larger mosses which become radiant 

 with this freshness of beauty, and whose foliage, studded 

 with globular water drops, reflect the sunlight with marvelous 

 and attractive splendor. 



In Oakes' White- Mountain Scenery, may be seen a beau- 

 tiful plate, in which is represented a bridge spanning a deep 

 defile, where the disintegration of the trap rock, by the action 

 of the water, has left on either side straight, smooth and 

 high walls for a considerable length. At the foot of this 

 natural and deep water-worn channel, and at a little distance 

 below, the debris, in the shape of large rounded loose stones, 

 constitutes the rocky bed of the mouth of Nancy's River as 

 it falls into the Saco. The site is often selected for its pic- 



