FIELD AND FOREST. 39. 



where our host, Cap't. Jenkins, a staunch union man, meets us with a 

 cordial greeting. 



Roan Mountain is One of the high peaks of the Blue Ridge, 6367 

 feet in height according to the most reliable estimate hitherto, while 

 Mt. Mitchell a few miles away, across the valley, rises to 6717 feet. 

 As we commence the ascent we are struck by the fertility of the soil ;' 

 acres are covered with Verbesi?ia, and Lobelia syphilitica is conspicu- 

 ous and abundant. 



Between 4000 and 5000 feet is fonnd a belt of magnificent forest 

 trees, Acer saccharinum, (Sugar Maple) Castanea vesca, (Chestnut) 

 Magnolia accuminata, (Cucumber Tree) Tilia Americana (Linden) 

 from four to five feet in diameter rising 70 feet without a limb. One 

 chestnut was measured 24 feet in circumference Still higher up we meet 

 Betula lutea, (Yellow Birch) Aesculus flava, (Buckeye) Pyrus Amer*. 

 icana, (Mountain Ash) Prunus serotina, (Wild Cherry) and all these 

 continue to be found till we reach an altitude of nearly 6000 feet. 

 The nut of the Buckeye is frequently carried in the pocket, as a pre- 

 vention against piles. Aristolochia sipho (Dutchman's Pipe) is seen 

 climbing over rocks and bushes along the streams and Veratum patvi*. 

 florum appears in the open woods. 



Above 5000 feet we meet a group of plants, of decidely northern 

 aspect, Aster acuminatus, Lycopodiam lucidulum, (Club Moss) Acer 

 spicatum, Viburnum lautanoides, (Hobble-Bush,) Monotropa uniflora, 

 (Indian Pipe,) As arum Canadense, (Wild Ginger,) Clintonia borealis, 

 Platantheia bracteata, just as we see them in the woods of Maine or' 

 New Hampshire. 



Aspidium spinulosum, Heuchera villosa (?) and Solidago Curtisii are 

 not rare, and Cimicifuga race?nosa (Bugbane) is very abundant all 

 along the valleys and up the mountain side. 



Cacalia reniformis (Indian Plantain) grows in wet places, with 

 leaves one or two feet in diameter, Astilbe decandra, is not uncom- 

 mon, and at last in a mossy rock we espy a beautiful specimen of 

 Saxiftaga leucanthemifolia, found in abundance near the summit. 



At length passing through a heavy growth of Abies Fraseri and 

 other spruces, we come out upon " The Bald " as it is called, a moun- 

 tain meadow extending over the crest of the mountain, and covering 

 some thousands of acres, interspersed with occasional clumps of Rho- 

 dedondro7i maximum and Alnus viridis, (Mountain Alder.) 



