A BOTANIST’S PARADISE. 
Congamond Lakes, Southwick, Mass., is without 
doubt the centre of one of the best botanical fields in 
New England. The lakes (three in number) are some 
four miles long, bordered by beautiful groves, reaching 
down to the water’s edge. In the sheltered nooks we 
find Nymphcea odorata, or Sweet White Water-Lily, in 
all stages of growth, from the tiny bud to the full- 
grown flower floating on the water’s surface, while 
here and there the Pontederia cordata with its spikes of 
blue flowers gives a pleasing contrast to its surrounding 
neighbors. The pretty little plants with yellow flowers 
growing just above the water's edge, in sand, is Gratiola 
aurea, or Hedge Hyssop, while further up the slope, in 
dry soil, we find the Trailing Arbutus, White Snake- 
root and Button Snakeroot. Let us visit Suifield Moun¬ 
tain some two miles east. On the way we will find in 
dry sandy soil Asclepius tuberosa, with its orange-red 
flowers; on a shaded bank we see Liparis-lilifolia, Good- 
yera pubescens, and Cypripedium acaule. In a moist, 
shaded place which we pass, grow Habenaria psycodes 
and H. fimbriata, with their beautiful spikes of pur¬ 
ple flowers, Habenaria virescens, and H. tridentata, 
with greenish-white flowers, and the rare little fern 
Botrychium matriearisefolium; as we near the moun¬ 
tain we find in a boggy place Liparis loeselii, and by a 
boiling spring Veronica anuricana. As we commence 
to ascend the mountain we notice some large red-sand¬ 
stone rocks are clothed with a beautiful green; I 
doubt if you could guess what the plant is unless you 
have been here before; but on a closer examination you 
know it is Camptosorus rhizophylla, or Walking-leaf 
Fern. Notice how the roots cling to the rocks; you will 
find in leaf-mold at the base of the rocks on the north 
side much larger plants, but they look more at home on 
the rocks. But there is a little Fern which seems differ¬ 
ent from the rest; it cannot be the Walking-leaf, al¬ 
though it seems at home on the rocks. No; it is the rare 
Fern Asplenium ebenoides; it came from Alabama, and 
was planted there three years ago. You will find an¬ 
other Fern on the rocks growing with Walking-leaf, 
which you perhaps may never have seen before; it is 
the Rock-brake of Oregon. These two Ferns seem to 
have become established here, and will probably thrive 
if not disturbed. We find in this vicinity Habenaria 
Hookeri, with its spike of greenish flowers and two 
large leaves lying flat on the ground. Pogonia verti- 
cillata is seen, some eight inches high, with a whorl of 
five obovate sessile leaves at the top of the stalk on 
which seems to be a purplish spider or some other in¬ 
sect, but it is the flower. Orchis spectabilis, with its 
showy pink-purple flowers grows here, and Cypripe¬ 
dium pubescens, or Yellow Lady’s-Slipper, is not rare. 
Further up the mountain among the rocks we find the 
beautiful purple Clematis (Clematis verticillaris). Aplec- 
trum hiemale grows on this mountain, but not com¬ 
mon. I have found on this mountain thirty species 
and variety of Ferns, and twenty species and variety 
of Orchids. 
On Manitook Mountains, just south of the lakes, we 
find the pure white Houstonia (Houstonia purpurea) 
some six inches high, growing in dry soil. Cypripedium 
parviflorum, with small yellow flowers, is found in leaf- 
mold on the mountain sides. Gentiana Andrewsii, with 
its blue, closed flowers, grows at its base bn the east 
side in open sun. Cornus Canadensis, with its bunches 
of red berries, grows to perfection; they fruit better 
here than in any other place I ever have seen in New 
England. Nardosmia palmata is found in a swamp east 
of the lakes. Anemone Pennsylvanica, Parnassia Caroli- 
nia an d Ophioglossum vulgatum grow in a moist meadow 
near the lakes. The three species of Phegopteris grow 
near the mountain. Struthiopteris Germanica finds a 
home near Southwick Village. The beautiful climbing 
or Hartford Fern (Lygodium palmatum) is found in no 
less than five localities within two miles of the lakes. 
Arethusa bulbosa grows some two miles west, and Cassia 
marilandica, with its yellow flowers, finds a home one 
mile south. In the swamps near the lakes we find the 
Creeping Snowberry, which resembles a Cranberry vine. 
Kalmia glauca, with its opposite shining leaves just be¬ 
yond, and that low shrub, which much resembles the 
Kalmia, is Marsh Andromeda, yet its leaves are not as 
broad, and are alternate. That shrub by its side, grow¬ 
ing two feet high, with the seed pods nearly one inch 
long, is Rhodora Canadensis; it has beautiful rose-purple 
flowers, which appear in early spring before the leaves 
come out. The Pitcher Plant grows to perfection here, 
and if we examine the pitchers which are filled with 
water, we will find insects in all stages of decay, on 
which the plant is said to feed. But what is that plant 
with the spike of beautifully fringed white flowers 
growing near the Sweet White Honeysuckle? Is it an 
Orchid? Yes; it is the Whue-fringe Orchis. Take a 
good look at it, for you may never see it growing wild 
in your locality; notice how it grows in pure Moss with¬ 
out any soil. Calla palustris, Menyanthes trifoliata, 
Sagittaria variabilis and Calopogon pulchellus, thrive in 
this their natural home. Climbing Boneset, with its 
bunches of white flowers, is found running over the low 
shrubs, and late in autumn, Black Alder is seen border¬ 
ing the swamps with their bright red berries. 
Edward Gillett. 
SEED AND PLANT GROWERS. 
PART IV. 
But few persons have the slightest idea of the extent among the industries of our country. The astonishment 
of the plant, seed and tree industry of this country, the of our own people when they are shown some of the 
lapid pi ogress it isnow making, and its relative position larger plant establishments is very great, but nothing 
