1C8 
RURAL HOURS. 
the same blight which attacked them last year ; it has not, how- 
ever, done so much mischief this season, nor have its ravages been 
so general. Those bushes which stand alone, surrounded by 
grass, escaped in many cases ; those in our neighborhood have 
been attacked, and the richer the earth, the more they seem to 
have suffered. 
Monday, 9tk. — Brilliant, warm weather. Thermometer 80 in 
the shade. 
Walked in the woods ; went in search of the large two-leaved 
orchis, a particular plant, which Ave have watched for several years, 
as it is something of a rarity, having been seen only in two places 
in the neighborhood. We found the large, shining leaves lying 
flat on the ground, in the well-knoAvn spot, but some one had been 
there before us and broken off the flower-stalk. The leaves of 
this orchis are among the largest and roundest in our woods. 
The handsome, large purple-fringed orchis is also found here, 
but we have not seen it this summer. The country people call it 
soldier’s plume ; it is one of our most showy flowers. 
Tuesday, \9th. — Warm, cloudless weather. Thermometer 84 
in the shade. Pleasant row on the lake tOAvard sunset. 
The water is beautifully clear ; as we rowed along we could see 
what was going on far below the surface. The fish kept out of 
Anew ; we only observed a few small perch. The soil of the lake, 
if one may use the phrase, varies much in character ; along the 
eastern shore one looks doAAui upon a pavement of rounded gray 
stones, Avith here and there the wreck of a dead tree, lying beneath 
the waves it once shaded ; coasting the western bank, one finds 
reaches of clean sand, Avith a few shells of fresh water muscles 
scattered about, and colorless leaves of last year’s growth, oak 
