13 
Blowing Rock, and a stranger would have considerable trouble 
in finding his way to the summit. The guide lost the trail when 
the foot of the mountain was reached, in order, perhaps, that he 
might act as guide at a future time. 
On the western side of the mountain, extending almost to the 
top, is an immense tract of rocks, upon which are very few trees, 
the vegetation being herbaceous or shrubby. There were de- 
tected a few bushes of Rhododendron punctatum and an abun- 
dance of a tall, woody Hypericum, upon which was neither flow- 
ers nor fruit. An unusually long-leaved form of Aletris farinosa 
appeared among the trees along the upper edges of the rocks, 
which were clothed with cushions of Paronychia argyrocoma, and 
adorned with an occasional clump of Talinum teretifolium. 
Chionanthus Virginica was there in force, as was Thalictrum di- 
oicum, var. coriaceum, and a very vigorous form of Arenaria gla- 
bra, some of the plants being fourteen inches high and very 
spreading, the tufts often having a diameter of a foot at the top. 
second excursion to Grandfather proved an interesting one- 
The first noteworthy plant collected was Carex Fraseri. A few 
hundred feet from the base, the trail leads through a grove of 
Prunus Pennsylvanica, and higher up in damp, mossy places 
Oxalis Acetosella forms vast patches. At this time of the year 
the higher parts of this grand old mountain are the most produc- 
tive. Near the ice-cold spring, whose elevation is about 5,000 
feet, is а vigorous growth of Glyceria elongata, a rare grass in 
the South. On the ledges of cliffs occur Carex canescens, var. 
alpicola, and a coarse form of Saxifraga leucanthemifolia. Along 
the trail above the spring Vaccinium erythrocarpon begins to ap- 
pear, as well as Pyrus Americana. From the elevation of 5,000 
feet to the summit a peculiarly smooth Rubus villosus * has its 
home. 
Carex debilis puts in an appearance at the first summit. 
Fine specimens of Abies Fraseri and Picea Mariana were ob- 
tained here. The history of the terrific storms that pass over 
Grandfather's head during the winter is written in the last named 
his plant p in dense clusters from the eleyation of 5,000 feet to the 
summit, is destitute of prickles except an occasional poorly developed о one on the 
young shoots. ie was also collected on Roan mountain at the same eleva 
