
          1009.

It was quite cold; ice covered the small ponds, in some places
½ in. thick.  The wind was somewhat blustery and cold.  We walked
therefore quite briskly.  It was 9 o'clock when we reached the Lygodium
place.  I stopped to examine the place, hoping to find perhaps a fruited
specimen but not one was found.  We proceeded out Sulphur Spring
R'd.  At Arbutus <s>wil</s> we stopped a moment to speak to the new
watchman.  We found him quite an intelligent young man.  When we
reached Catonsville Av. we met Mr. Gottschalk the letter carrier.
Mr. W. interrogated both on the Stabler case.  Both thought S. a
good man.  From Sulphur Sp. R'd we went along the Cameron R'd to
Avalon, crossed the river and proceeded to the Gentian Hills.  I had
hoped to get a few ripe seeds but none were to be found.  As we
met along the River R'd we saw that the new dam was being
stregthened -- a corner of solid rock was being built on the south
side.  From Gentian Place we went up the hillside to to Hanson's.
Persimmons were found frequently and we had the opportunity of
noticing what a difference there was in the fruits of the different trees.
Our little tree with the conical fruit is again laden.  Only a few
of the fruits are ripe.  From H's we went to O.G.; to get to
the River R'd we went through a deep ravine.  Here I found a
        