
          and occurs among the rocks at the very apex of the peak of Mt Wash-
ingtn, far above any other plant except mosses + lichens. This reminds me
of a very remarkable assertion for a Botanist - + no less than Dr. Cutler, who
is quoted (in a book on Amer. Scenery now publishing by Mr. N.P. Willis
in parts) as saying that non vegetation whatever is found on the peak
Mt. Washington but that "at the base of the summit the limits of vege-
tation may with probability be fixed. there are indeed" he goes on some on + on of
the rock, even to their apecies, scattered spcecks of a mossy appearance ;
but I concieve them to be extraneous substances accidentally adhereing to 
the rocks, for I could not discovery, with any botanical microscope, any
part of that plant regularly formed". Now not to speak of the
abundant patches of Ericas + Diaspensias that occur on the sides of 
the peak, the rocks are perfected heaped with perfect lichens, + 
the cerices are lined with perfect mosses + as above - said, among
these Lycopodium Selago frequently occurs to the very top. Salix her-
bacea; found by me very sparingly on a high ridge connecting the peak
of Mt Washington with that of Mt Jefferson. I do not know that you
got the specimens (much better than this) which I sent with
an account [?] some months since. I believe this is new. Having
before I went on to these Mts studied the desc. + collected a
list of all the Alpine plants that had already been found, it
was my ambition to add on to this list - and since my
Rubus Chamaemosus was too late, I hope this little shrub
may be the happy one: provided it escaped the eagle-eye of
Mr. Oakes. It has certainly never been published - except by Pursh
in this country. Elatine Americana, abundant in Cambridge on the margins
of Fresh Pond. 2 plants apparently belonging to the Fluviales from Camb?
        