38 FIELD AND FOREST. 
sheltered from the wind, and the warm July sun brought the temper- 
ature up to a more seasonable point. 
Turning toward Tuckermans’ Ravine, with snow visible on its sides, 
we soon came to what might be called mountain meadows, or rather 
moors, many acres in extent, green with matted patches of the Carices 
already noted, Juncus^ Litzula arcuata^ Hierochloa alpina, and other 
grasses. Veratum viride is very abundant and conspicuous, its spikes 
just beginning to form. Viola palustris is plentiful. Kalniia glauca 
and Lonicera coerulea occur in clumps. A dwarf form of Streptopus 
roseus is common, and the bright yellow flowers of Geum add variety 
and color to the landscape. A little farther on Castilleia pallida cov- 
ers the ground, and in crevices of rocky ridges find Fhyllodoce 
taxifolia^ Loiseleuria procumbens^ and Cass lope hypndides. 
Crossing this plateau to the westward near the old Crawford bridle 
path, on a gravelly plain, Potentilla frigida attracts our attention. 
. Going on, we flnd ourselves at the beautiful little Lake of the Clouds, 
and eat our lunch on a snow bank, two or three rods square and three 
feet thick. Here Salix argyrocarpa, Betula glandulosa and other 
shrubs occur in all stages of developement. Some just released from 
under the snow, have buds only beginning to swell, others a little 
farther away are in flower, while still others are in fruit. The same 
thing holds true for all the plants of these alpine summits, so that a 
difference of two or three rods in location, will often make a difference 
of a month in the time of flowering. Rhododendrotn Lapponicunt 
though quite abundant is entirely out of bloom. Ledum latifolium is 
everywhere conspicuous with its profusion of white flowers. 
Having finished our explorations, we started down the mountain 
leaving the path, and following the little stream, which flows out of 
Lake of the Clouds,” down into the Gulf of Mexico, and thence 
into the head waters of the Ammonoosuc. The only plants of special 
interest, were Habenafia obtiisata, and Listera cordata. But the 
scenery was very wild and picturesque. The descent was abrupt all 
the v/ay, and every little while would lead to a precipice over which 
the stream would leap two or three hundred feet into the abyss, while 
we were obliged to make a detour in order to find some safer paths 
But patience and hard work at length brought us to camp again, some- 
what wearied with our ten hours tramp^ 
J. W. Chickering. 
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