50 
* Mountains which separate the waters of the Atlantic side from those 
* of the Mississippi in North Carolina and the 
* ndjacent borders of Tennessee, rise to their highest altitude, and take 
* on more picturesque forms. On their sides the Atlantic forest, 
* especially its deciduous Hed portion, is still to be seen to great 
* advantage, nearly ia pristine condition, and composed of a greater 
* variety of genera and species se in any other temperate region, 
* excepting Japan. And in their shade are the greatest variety and 
* abundance of shrubs, and a acil share of the most peculiar 
T TP genera. This is the special home of onr Rhododendrons, 
* Azaleas and Kalmias—at least here they flourish in greater number 
* und in “iat luxurious Sa ae Saison pie maximum, which is 
* found in a scattered s far north as the vicinity of 
* Montreal, and Kalmia latifolia (both called Yael even become 
* forest trees in some places. More commonly they are shrubs, 
* forming dense thickets or steep —Q sides, through which the . 
“ traveller can make his way only by follow old bear paths, or by 
s. Only 
* many handsome forms in English grounds, and on the higher wooded 
* glo the yellow and the flame-coloured Azalea calendulacea ; on 
* the lower, the pink A. nudiflora and the more etr A. arborescens, 
* along with the common and widespread A. viscosa 
Em. distribution. With rarest exceptions plants which are 
mon to this country and Europe extend well northward. But on 
rii summits from Southern Virginia to Carolina, yet nowhere else, 
we find, |, undoubtedly identical with the European species, the Lily of the 
Valley." 
There are three distinet zones of vegetation, the lower is m 
limited by maize, which is grown in small quantities in the forest 
openings; some of the trees and shrubs noted in this belt were Rhodo- 
dendron maximum, Kalmia latifolia, Magnolia acuminata, M. Fraseri, 
H, Lentes de arborescens, Ceanothus americanus, Prunus Lei iva 
Castanea americana, Tulip tree (twenty feet in girth), Aesculus — a. 
In the tisieitüleilinto belt, which ra gm es from the upper limit of maize 
cultivation to the lower limit o ododendron — many of 
the trees of the lower belt also occur, gon as we ascend various birches, 
Nyssa, Bass-wood, enormous beeches, &c. take their places, becoming 
more stunted, untl the third zone is reached, and a sub-alpine flora 
obtains— m raseri, Picea nigra, Pyrus americana, Crataegus 
coccinea, C. punctata, Alnus viridis and Rhododendron catawbiense 
being the characteristic trees or shrubs. Small shrubs are Leiophyllum 
buxifolium, Vaccinium erythrocarpum (a species recently introduced to 
this country through the Arnold Arboretum), Menzie sta ferruginea, Ribes 
rotundifolium, R. Cynosbati. A few of the herbaceous plants of adm 
belt are Bluets (Houstonia serpyllifolia), Houstonia purpur 
Saxifraga leucanthemifolia, Potentilla tridentata, the rare Lim um 
Grayi—s beautiful lily which under cultivation at Kew attains pro- 
portions never seen in its native habitats, Pedicularis canadensis, &c. 
Too much space would - necessary to give anything like a list of the 
= number of trees noted on Roan Mountain. My best thanks for 
information and Peas sae time and trouble in guiding me to spots 
T sold not otherwise have seen during a few days stay in this 
LA emis are due to the Rev. Dr. Edson and his son, Mr. Elmer 
