29 



maximum L. is a rare plant in New York state: something like* 

 "a dozen reported stations . . . scattered from the Adiron- 

 dacks to Chautauqua Co."; but it occurs quite abundantly on 

 the Pocono plateau in Pennsylvania. However, according to 

 Dr. C. H. Peck,t this showy shrub grows in great profusion 

 about Barryville and in other places in Sullivan county. 



The morning train o,n the Lehigh Valley railroad, from Ithaca 

 was taken to West Danby, ten miles south of the city. It was 

 with some hesitation that I started out in search of this rare 

 shrub, being told that I would not find it, as other collectors 

 had often failed. 



Soon after leaving West Danby station, 872 feet above sea 

 level, the ascending road follows the meanderings of a rocky 

 rivulet. For some distance the woods are preserved on both sides 

 of the road ; although further east quite a territory had been cut 

 over. It is a very pretty spot, the ground being covered with 

 mosses and ferns, specially of the genera Hypnum and Dryop- 

 teris. Hylocomiiim proliferum (L.) Lindb. was abundant; and 

 Pogonatiim brevicaule (Brid.) P. Bv., on moist roadside banks. 

 Up the hill, thickets were largely made up of sassafras, witch- 

 hazel and hawthorn. A few unfruited plants of Lycopodium 

 clavatum L., L. complanatum flabelliforme Fernald and L. ohscurum 

 L. were found; and as far as observation was made, neither of 

 the first two clubmosses are as abundant in the Cayuga flora as 

 in the Adirondack forests. 



To where one enters the swampy woods it is about two miles 

 from West Danby and one from Danby. The rail fence to be 

 followed lies between two houses south and two houses north; 

 with moderately large slate-colored barns standing on the east 

 side of the road. The fence should be followed down to the 

 "jog" in the woods; then one should go north a few paces, then 

 directly east, a five minutes walk to the moister shades of the 

 wood. 



Michigan Hollow swamp covers several hundred acres, but in 

 less than a quarter of an hour after entering the woods, the great 

 laurel was found. The muddy bottom of partly desiccated 



* VV. R. Dudley, The Cayuga Flora, 59. 1886. 

 t N. Y. State Mus. Rep. 47: 31. 1894 Bot. ed. 



