3.8 FIELD AND FOREST. 



sheltered from the wind, and the warm July sun brought the temper- 

 ature up to a more seasonable point. 



Turning toward Tuckermans' Ravine, with snow visible on its sides, 

 we soon came to what might be called mountain meadows, or rather 

 moors, many acres in extent, green with matted patches of the Carices 

 already noted, Jujicus, Ltizula arcuata, Hierochloa alpina, and other 

 grasses. Veratum viride is very abundant and conspicuous, its spikes 

 just beginning to form. Viola palustris is plentiful. Kalniia glauca 

 and Lonicera coerulea occur in clumps. A dwarf form of Streptopus 

 roseus is common, and the bright yellow flowers of Geum add variety 

 and color to the landscape. A little farther on Castilleia pallida cov- 

 ers the ground, and in crevices of rocky ridges we find Phyllodoce 

 taxifolia, Loiseleuria procumbens, and Cassiope hypnoides. 



Crossing this plateau to the westward near the old Crawford bridle 

 path, on a gravelly plain, Potentilla frigida attracts our attention. 



Going on, we find ourselves at the beautiful little Lake of the Clouds, 

 and eat our lunch on a snow bank, two or three rods square and three 

 ifeet thick. Here Salix argyrocarpa, Betula glafidulosa and other 

 shrubs occur in all stages of developement. Some just released from 

 under the snow, have buds only beginning to swell, others a little 

 farther away are in flower, while still others are in fruit. The same 

 thing holds true for all the plants of these alpine summits, so that a 

 difference of two or three rods in location, will often make a difl"erence 

 of a month in the time of flowering. Rhododendrom Lapponicum 

 though quite abundant is entirely out of bloom. Ledum latifolium is 

 everywhere conspicuous with its profusion of white flowers. 



Having finished our explorations, we started down the mountain 

 leaving the path, and following the little stream, which flows out of 

 "Lake of the Clouds," down into the Gulf of Mexico, and thence 

 into the head waters of the Ammonoosuc. The only plants of special 

 interest, were Habenaria obfusafa, and Lister a cordata. But the 

 scenery was very wild and picturesque. The descent was abrupt all 

 the way, and every little while would lead to a precipice over which 

 the stream would leap two or three hundred feet into the abyss, while 

 we were obliged to make a detour in order to find some safer paths 

 But patience and hard work at length brought us to camp again, some- 

 what wearied with our ten hours tramp. 



J. W. Chickering. 



