16 
Black clouds now gathered around the mountain tops and 
spread over the whole plateau, and in a short time a light rain 
began to fall. All possible haste was made for Linville and the 
shelter of the inn reached about dark, just in time to escape a 
deluge from above. 
A steady, pouring rain continued through the night and fol- 
lowing day, so collecting was out of the question. 
After breakfast, with the plunder of the raid, amounting to 
eleven hundred and fifty specimens, we took the stage for our 
headquarters beyond Blowing Rock. Of course it was necessary 
to keep inside the stage-coach, but traveling in this way soon be- 
came monotonous. Having lost considerable sleep on the trip, 
we were naturally inclined to drowsiness, but woe to the person 
who attempts sleeping in a regulation-coach on a new mountain - 
road during a heavy rain. 
This was the beginning of the rainy season, which sets in about 
this time each year. It interfered much with our plans, but 
we managed to circumvent the showers and make a number o 
successful excursions. However, our scheme for a jaunt to the 
southwestern corner of Virginia, White Top mountain and 
vicinity, was completely spoiled. These places would, no doubt, 
have yielded good results, and we hope to explore them some- 
time in the near future. 
July 25th was devoted to exploring portions of the new road 
between Blowing Rock and Linville. This road, which for three- 
fourths of its length winds along over the foot hills and slopes of 
Grandfather mountain, finally crossing it near Linville, presents 
some very beautiful scenery. 
The objective point was about fourteen miles from Blowing 
Rock, where the road passes through two or three promising 
spots. On tracts, many acres in extent, not a tree is to be seen. 
Immense loose rocks lie scattered about, and on the largest tract 
isaledge extending to the summit of the mountain, almost 
2,000 feet above. 
The principal growth is Vaccinum pallidum, but on the 
more level portions there was an abundance of Zygadenus 
leimanthoides,a low and generally solitary-flowered form of Lilium 
superbum, Xerophyllum setifolium, now past flowering, but attain- 
