26o 



OUT- DO OR BOTANY. 



tains. Sometimes they wind along the cool top or 

 high side of the mountain a thousand feet, or even 

 half as much again, above the level of the earth, 

 then plunge into the primitive forest, crossing brawl- 

 ing streams or following their banks, now curving 

 along the slopes of green hills where cattle pasture, 

 again passing cultivated fields or passing under 

 beetling cliffs, where the grandest rocks are massed 

 in an endless and ever-varying confusion. The 

 walks are worthy of particular stud}'. None of 

 them are without an object. Filled with curves, 

 they do not zigzag aimlessly. Perhaps we step 

 from the pounded slate to take advantage of the 

 smooth surface of some grand stone left by nature, 

 finer and larger than the best in the pavements of 

 the metropolis, smooth from glacial action as if 

 done by the lapidary ; or we may turn aside to avoid 

 some huge boulder that fills the direct way, stopping 

 to admire the quartz conglomerate that constitutes 

 its substance or the mosses that clothe the damp 

 and shady portions and the ferns that fringe its 

 base. We may follow the path where it leads along 

 a precipice, protected by railings for those who may 

 be dizzy, or goes to some point where one of the 

 ever-varying mountain views is to be enjoyed. Here 

 we will doubtless find one of the many summer 

 houses provided for rest and shelter. These are so 

 numerous, unique and characteristic of the place 

 that we must speak of them particularly again. 

 Often a chasm between the rocks crosses the paths, 

 but a firm rustic bridge delights us, and we enjoy a 

 better sight of the fissure than if we toiled over the 

 hot way leading down and around it. So numerous 



are these in one of the paths to " Sky Top," where 

 the mountain is parted as if in gigantic slices, that 

 we have an experience unequalled elsewhere. Not 

 always do the paths lead overground, but in some 

 places under it. The Great Crevice, 150 feet deep, 

 is not only crossed by bridges, but has a path 

 through it. The underground paths are more pop- 

 ular with the men than with the ladies, but few of 

 either sex regret the trouble and exertion they de- 

 mand, so grand and inspiring are they to those 

 strong enough to take them. They are free from the 

 desolation and depression so frequent among rocky 

 scenes, but all rock-work seems puny after behold- 

 ing this. The paths around the lake teach us that 

 grand and distant views, perfect as they may be, 

 are not essential to the most enjoyable walk. A 

 wall of natural rock on one side and deep and placid 

 sheet of water on the other seem no less perfect in 

 their way. But we are so much indebted to the 

 path that enables us to take it all in that we must 

 not forget to observe how unobtrusively art enables 

 us to enjoy nature at her and our best. Also can 

 we by its aid enjoy the bracing air and unequalled 

 view from " Sky Top " tower, see the rivers, towns, 

 plains and mountains of six different states. The 

 Berkshire hills of Massachusetts do not hide the 

 dim and distant mountains of Vermont, and beyond 

 the Neversink mountains are those of Pike county, 

 Pa. Over the fertile valley of Duchess county the 

 Connecticut hills appear, and looking across the 

 counties of Orange and Ulster a portion of New 

 Jersey can be seen. 



John De Wolf. 



OUT-DOOR BOTANY. 



A SUGGESTION FROM EXPERIENCE. 



"The foolish man," says Emerson, "wonders at 

 the unusual, the wise man at the usual ;" while 

 Lowell more wittily words the same truth: "We 

 think lightly of nature's penny shows, and estimate 

 what we see by the cost of the ticket." 



With what dismay would the average hay-maker 

 be likely to open his eyes at all that Mr. Ruskin 

 finds to say about so insignificant objects as grass 

 blossoms: "Minute, granular, feathery or downy 

 seed vessels, mingling brown punctuation and 

 dusty tremors of dancing grain with the bloom of 

 the nearer fields ; and casting softness of plumy 

 mist along their surfaces far away ; mysterious 

 evermore, not only with dew of the morning, or 

 mirage at noon, but with the shaking threads of 



fine arborescence, each a little belfry of grain-bells 

 all a-chime !" 



It is an ignorance incompatible with their infor- 

 mation on other subjects that intelligent people 

 often display in speaking of even common garden 

 flowers. They use such terms as " Pve seen some 

 like those before;" "Mrs. M. has flowers like that 

 one;" "This white one is sweeter than that blite 

 kind ;" or to point out trees by the roadside as " the 

 tallest" or short one," or giant" in order to des- 

 ignate the object of their thought. That the most 

 marked characteristic of a plant or tree has escaped 

 their observation appears in their surprise when 

 their attention is attracted to it by a more obser- 

 vant companion of nature. Having eyes, they 



