16 Joint Bllletix 7 



eddy, was our first bush of Salix pellita Anders, Eggleston's station, no 

 doubt. On the way home, days later, we traced it many miles south- 

 ward. Just how far down the river it has a foothold remains to be 

 proved. We were of the opinion that it came from the Connecticut 

 lakes far to the north. 



Upon further inquiry in regard to Maidstone Lake, we retraced 

 our road for two miles, then opened a gate into a rocky pasture, follow- 

 ing a cart road until twilight prompted a search for a camping place 

 in an open space in the pasture. 



Not until supper was over did we begin to realize that we were 

 doomed to pass a sleepless night from myriads of black flies and mos- 

 quitoes which descended upon us. In vain we smeared ourselves with 

 pitch, tar and rosin. In vain we covered our heads with blankets. The 

 one smoker of tobacco sat on a stone in the close embrace of his com- 

 panions, who chose to endure the nausea of smoke to the fiery darts 

 of the insects, and only with the coming of the sun did they depart. 



We were soon up and away on foot, leaving the car at this place. 

 A half hour's walk brought us to where years ago the stream had been 

 dammed across a gorge to furnish power. A tiny meadow and a few 

 old log cabins, one still occupied, relieved the loneliness. 



In the mud of the old dam was Alopecurus geniculatus L. var. 

 (fristiilatus Torr. We followed an old logging trail which crossed and 

 recrossed the brook, for some time, eventually leading up to the shore 

 of a lonesome and desolate sheet of water, Maidstone Lake. 



The forest, or such of it as was left after wasteful lumber opera- 

 tions had ceased years ago, came nearly to the water's edge or marsh, 

 the rude dam, now nearly rotted away, was clogged with the bare 

 trunks and branches of trees worn quite smooth by the water, which 

 gurgled and eddied beneath. 



We wriggled our way through reeds and willows for some distance, 

 finally reaching a little beach with a bit of grass, where we stopped 

 long enough to eat a bit of chocolate and catch a nap; then returned 

 to the car, all agreeing that it was no place for a summer meeting. 



The afternoon was spent in returning to Bloomfield, en route for 

 Island Pond, over an interesting road in sight of many bogs and through 

 damp forests of spruce close to the road. 



Sphagnum by the roadside gave us Habernaria obtusata and Micro- 

 ■sti/los unifiora. We stayed at the Island Pond Hotel, conducted by a 

 most estimable couple working under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. 

 It is a big barn of a structure with few conveniences, though the 



