
          404.

We had quite a pleasant walk, even if not filled with botanical
finds.  Reached home about 6 p.m.

154
Sept. 22, 1900.  An ideal day; one of the first of our
beautiful autumn days.  <s>Already</s> Signs of fall are not
wanting.  In the foliage <s>already</s> faintest tints of the gorgeous
colors of a few weeks hence can be noticed.  Some of our
tender herbs such as Bidens bipinnata are already beautifully
colored.  Another sign of fall is the ripening of the nuts.
The first of some of the oaks was found in the latter part of 
August; the chestnut oak is one of these particularly early, Chinquapins
were found during the first week of this month and now the
nuts of the white walnut may be found almost everywhere.  This
tree loses its leaves as soon as its fruit is ripe; it is I think
the first of the trees to drop its foliage.  In another week
Witchhazel will be found in bloom and perhaps the Fringed Gentia.
My trip to-day was from Catonsville to Relay along <s>the</s> Catonsville
Av. then along the River R'd to Orange Grove and through the ravine.
I was very anxious to find Aster cordifolius in flower.  It was
found but just beginning to bloom.  Another reason of this particular
trip was to have a peep at Gentiana crinita, the Fringed Gentian; one
        