THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
91 
number ol plants in one spot, more scattering ingrowth — 
here and there a plant. 
Upon reaching home we referred to our botanies but 
could not find any description of our white mountain 
yarrow\ I have not had the opportunity to make many 
inquiries about yarrows, but thought that some reader of 
The American Botanist might be able to throw some 
light upon the subject. Is there another species, and has 
it been introduced by means of the railroad, as have so 
many of our weeds ? 
We were also much interested and pleased to find upon 
the rocks, forming a wall restricting the river to a narrow 
channel as it passed beneath the railroad bridge, the first 
beech ferns (Phegopteris polypodioides) we had ever seen 
growing. They were much more lovely rooted in the 
rocks, with their dainty green fronds gracefully Swaying 
over the water, then when dried and mounted on herbar- 
ium sheets. 
These two finds added much to the enjoyment of the 
trip, and will remain in our minds with the memory 
pictures of the beautiful mountain scenery. 
Maiden, Mass. 
[Possibly the plant was the northern yarrow (Archil- 
lea horealis). Since the last edition of Gray's Manual 
was printed, several forms of yarrow from America have 
been distinguished some of which appear to be good 
species. — Ed.] 
COLOR. 
Now that we are on the brink of the brilliant annual 
display of spring flowers which herald the approach of the 
general flowering season, a little consideration of what 
color really is may not be out of place, especially if 
coupled with some indications of those laws which govern 
that harmony which best and most pleasurably appeals 
to our sense of beauty. 
Color is undoubtedly one of the most subtle features 
of plant life among many, since, although popularly we 
