21 



to-day, though, as usual, not all coming at the same time, 

 or by one route. One division had started early, and gone 

 by a more extended road to explore the ever-famous Magnolia 

 swamp, not far away. This spot always figures prominently 

 in the attentions of the members, when anywhere in its 

 neighborhood, but not every one, who visits it, brings away 

 full satisfaction or dry feet. The magnolia is certainly there, 

 genuine and lovely, but Ihe plants are grown scrubby 

 through rude and frequent breakage, and the blossoms 

 never abundant, are made rarer yet by unscrupulous rang- 

 ers, who bid fair to destroy the bushes in their eagerness for 

 a two-penny traffic in the half-opened flowers. Still the 

 Magnolia Swamp will not answer to be neglected by the 

 botanist, for it contains many rare and beautiful plants 

 beside that for which it is named. The Inkberry (Prinos 

 glaber or Ilex g-laber') a close relative of the Holly, revels in 

 the bogs in profusion, its bright evergreen foliage alike 

 cheerful in summer and winter. The White Fringed Orchis 

 (O. blepharig-loUis') lifts its spikes of pure white flowers 

 here and there, and the Clintonia, named after the worthy 

 DeWitt Clinton of New York, here and there fills large 

 spaces with its broad leaves of brightest green, and adorns 

 them with its little golden lilies first, and blue berries after- 

 ward. The structure of this swamp appears peculiar, for 

 very little earth or soil of any kind is to be met after leaving 

 the margin, but instead, one level expanse, crowded and 

 packed with Sphagnum or peat moss. This, growing con- 

 tinually at the surlace and decaying below, preserves its 

 condition of a soft, compact, elastic cushion, lull of water, 

 but free from mud, green as grass at the top, and furnishing 

 an excellent foothold for all kinds of vegetation. 



The morning party being thus engaged with this and other 

 notable spots at some little distance from the rendezvous, 

 the latter, and more thoroughly pleasure-hunting company 



