1899.] ESSAYS. 49 



and it will surely lead you through scenes of surpassing love- 

 liness and interest. The cold waters of the spray keep a cool, 

 moist atmosphere always around the rocks. Everywhere are 

 mosses, lichen and liverwort. In the stream, Grimmia, con- 

 oc€2)halus, jiJiilonoles. Half in and out the water the hand 

 seeks satisfaction into deep beds of Hypnun-allegJianiense, the 

 rank form of Ati'tchiim-anguntatuin. In crevices of rocks the 

 shining emerald Plagiolhe cium.s, and, if one is fortunate, the 

 rare, luminous moss ; overhead Neckera and Drummoiidia, and 

 on decaying trunks that span the stream, mats of shining Lri- 

 ponens, Oup)r€ssif<)lium, and Cupressiform; and, trailing in 

 the water itself, long streamers of Fontinalis and DkJielyina. 



It sometimes happens that a peculiar season brings rare 

 species to light ; as, a few years ago, during a very dry time, 

 I discovered what were to me new species in the dried-up beds 

 of ponds and wells, and, hanging from the dried-up stems of 

 grassses and water plants about the margins. Some fine speci- 

 mens of H. riparium, Dlchelyma Gapillaceum, Oonomiirium 

 were among them. 



We often speak with contempt of the fields all grown 

 to moss, as if the moss were to blame. Poor indeed is the soil 

 indicated by the growth of moss ! But we should remember 

 that when man has taken the fertility, and the more lordly 

 plants refuse to occupy it, the mosses begin the humble work 

 of renewal. Even subsoil thrown up from some depth, as in 

 ditching, digging wells and cellars, will, if left to itself, be 

 soon covered, more or less, with a growth. I have wondered 

 how the spore got there, whether they were in the soil or were 

 always in the air and ready to attach themselves and start under 

 these conditions. 



It is usually the same species that I find in these places — 

 Physcomitinum-pyriforme^ Brywni-argentia and Funaria. 

 These species seem to get along with the smallest quantity or 

 no humus. A few years ago, there was a wood burnt over near 

 us. It was an old wood, fifty years' growth at least. It had 

 been cut ofi", and a fire started in midsummer, burning every- 

 thing, including the cord- wood. It was dry and hot and the 



