Jersey Mountains and Meadows 237 



The Salt Meadows of New Jersey, during August and 

 September, are rolling swales of tall sedges and cat-tail 

 grasses. Later in the season, when the golden-rod and 

 purple asters are frozen and brown, and thrown in 

 heaps upon the ground by the autumn winds, one 

 may see great flocks of geese, and the comical purple 

 grackle — the crow blackbird — flying southward over 

 these desolate lands. A deep, weird solitude surrounds 

 these unfathomable swamps. The foot of man and his 

 bog-hoe as yet have never penetrated their regions, al- 

 though within hearing of Old Trinity's chimes. 



In the Hoosac Valley autumn is a season of glory. 

 Late August produces the gorgeous colored tiger lilies. 

 The swampy meadows in September are brightened 

 with the delicate greenish-white stars of the Grass-of 

 Parnassus {Parnassia Caroliniana), first found on that 

 ancient Mount Parnassus in Greece, and described and 

 named by Dioscorides in Christ's day. Innumerable 

 asters and golden-rod brighten the roadside hedges. In 

 the open clearings of bushy pastures grows the Woolly 

 Moonshine — the "everlasting" of which Thoreau 

 wrote. It is sometimes called Cud- Weed, or Balsam- 

 Weed {Gnaphaliiim deairrens). The Pearly-Everlast- 

 ing or None-so- Pretty {Anaphalis margaritacea) is 

 peculiarly fragrant and beautiful, banked in among 

 the late golden-rods, and the crimson and chrome- 

 colored autumn leaves of sumach and blackberry 

 briars against the dark green pines. I have found 

 these flowers unfolding amid the snows as late as De- 

 cember. Late spikes of Orchids, the Ladies' Tresses 



