Harvard Botany Libraries

49 — 1894 — — July 27 — Whitefield N.H. Fine day, warm, too hazy to think of our Mt. Washington trip. This A.M. Mr. Döring & I walked round Aunt's estate on the side of the road. There is some land tilled, and planted with corn, oats & potatoes. There is a good deal of pasture, and woods consisting chiefly of Picea nigra & alba, Abies balsamea, Pinus strobus. This P.M. Fred drove Mr. D. & I and little Ralph, his boy, to Dalton Ferry on the Connecticut River and back over Dalton Mt. The country between the Conn. R. & Whitefield is very sandy. We waded through several inches of it, but on Dalton Mt. there are good farms. I saw a good field of wheat, one of oats & fine hay fields. The road down Dalton Mt. or the East side is long and the steepest road I ever rode down. On the way up the Mt. we saw by the roadside Streptopus amplexifolius (fruit) Habenaria psycodes (flower) Sambucus racemosa (splendid bunches of fruit). On the level I got some Linnaea borealis in flower by the roadside. The view of the river was fine expecially from the Mt. We drove 14 miles in all and got back quite late to tea. I had a nice letter from McDonald telling of his collecting experiences round Peoria. Lychnis chalcedonica, L. Roadside, Dalton Hill, Dalton, Escape—————

50 49 — 1894 — — July 28 — — Whitefield N.H. — Very hot day, 91° {degrees} in the shade on the piazza at noon. We all kept pretty quiet to-day. The P.M. I drove down to the village with Mr. D. & Fred. I got a key filled to a drawer that belongs to a chest which Aunt Anna has given me. She has also give me a number of botanical books, mostly English. Letters from Prof. Penhallow from Shelburne, N.H. in regard to the Pinus rigida Will Brewster & I found there in '88. He has found several on the same spot, and it would seem that the species was increasing there. Letter from Bailey, L.H. jr. ————— — July 28 — Whitefield N.H. — Another warm day. Wrote this A.M. Watched a woodchuck feedin, in the garden close by, on poppy-leaves. I could observe him very well with my glass. In the P.M. I went over Mr. McClintock's Farm, with Mr. Mr. Döring. We saw a fine Jersey Bull, 15 mo. old. He bellowed and dropped on his knees, tearing up sods with his horns. He is a handsome little fellow, but I should hate to meet in the pasture.

51 — 1894 — — July 30 — — Whitefield, N.H. — Warm day, very hazy in the distance. This A.M. Fred & I drove to the village with my chest of drawers crated. I expressed it straight home. We did a number of errands. I made inquiries at the R.R. Station, and shall go to Jaffrey via Wells R. Junction, Bellows Falls & Keene to Winchendon. We go probably Thursday Aug. 2nd. Fred told me an interesting story. Some time ago in the winter, he was cutting trees in the woods when he saw a peculiar "White Maple (Acer rubra) Yellow Birch (Betula lutea). The tree had probably blown down some years before, and the trunk was prostrate for some 12 ft. The trunk was some 10 in. through and the roots still remaining in the ground served to keep it alive, for, 12 ft. from these roots, a branch has grown erect some 40 ft. high, as high as the surrounding trees, the trunk some 10 in. through. The top of the original tree beyond this erect trunk, had decayed away. Fred found, on cutting the tree down that from the central 4 ft. of the prostrate trunk a stout roots 6 in. in diameter had grown, and had taken so firm a hold that after this central piece was cut off at both ends, he couldn't start the log by hitting it with his axe — He first thought it frozen to the ground, till he investigated and found the roots. — See further note under Aug. 2, 1894 —

52 — 1894 — — July 30 — Pinus resinosa is apparently very rare about here. There is a good specimen some 10 in. in diameter on the place here below the house near the main road. A Fir and a black Spruce are crowding it too much. This P.M. Mr. Döring, Fred & I took a drive through the village, then East by Mr King's farm, and round by Hazen's Junction & Dodge's home. The views were fine.

— July 31 — Aug. 1 — Whitefield, N.H. — A glorious trip up Mt. Washington has been accomplished. Yesterday (31st) I took a walk in the A.M. round to the village and home by way of the road west of the schoolhouse. Got a ride part of the way. Walked some 4 m. By that time, the great Mts. had cleared up finely, so Mr. Döring & I took the 4.02 P.M. for Fabyans: then the Mt. Washing Railway to the Base of the Mountain. The views as we approached the base were grand. We followed the course of the Ammonoosuc River and had charming glimpses of the clear water tumbing over the stones. Full in view were Mts. Jefferson, Clay, Washington with the group of

53 houses on top, Monroe, Franklin, Pleasant, Clinton Jackson & Webster. Of the Presidential Range Madison & Adams are not visible from this side. The whole range is but one immense mass sprinkled over with separate peaks, the valley between them thousands of feet high. Bold ridges and deep ravines give grandeur of the sides of this mighty heap, each ravine being the source of some river. The rounded dome of Mt. Pleasant is very attractive to the eye. Arriving at the Base, we were all tranferred to the car of the Summit R.R. and soon the fiery little engine was pulsing us slowly up. It was a glorious trip up. The road is built up a huge ridge with deep ravines on either side. I was much interested with little train. The car was in front and was pushed by the engine. The tender followed the engine and the small baggage car was at the end. I stayed on the front platform of the car a good deal of the time and had a fine view of everything. We stopped 2 or 3 times and at the edge of the Great Gulf we had time to run a few rods and look down into the yawning depths. We reached the top, registered at the Hotel

54 — 1894 — and then went out to enjoy the sunset. The air was clear as crystal and the bold peaks of the Presidential Range stood out with startling clearness. We went to the top of the Observatory and the wind was blowing pretty hard and the was very cold. Gradually the sun sank a glorious ball of fire. It was a fine sight. We had our tea, darkness set in and we gathered round the open fire in the hall. Occasionally I walked out on to the platform and the night was brilliant with stars, while lights shone here & there far below from town or hotel. A bell rang shortly before sunrise and we were up and dressed in cardigan & over coat by 4 A.M. A stiff breeze and the temperature at 40°+ {degrees} keep us jumping about. Again we climbed the Observatory. It was almost too cold to stand on top. Words fail to give our idea of the view. Light clouds were drifing past below us, and in all the valleys the course of the streams was marked by a clearly defined line of fog. The effect of this on the Androscoggin Valley especially was superb. It was just like

55 the Mer de Glace, a lady told me. The East grew rosier and rosier and soon up leaped the sun. It is remarkable and often remarked, but suddenly the sun seems to spring up, as viewed from a high mountain top. Certainly I shall never forget the sight. The light-effects on the Mt. peaks was very beautiful. We spent an hour moving about by the house, and talking with newly made friends. It had frozen in the night, and I slid on a board covered with frost, an event for Aug. 1st. We retired at 5 for a couple of hours and then were up for breakfast. The morning was spent in wandering over the Mt. top and studying the views. We made a very pleasant acquaintance in Mr. John of Phila. an artist. He knows a number of my botanical friends, Porter, Brittan &c has been on one or more expeditions with Dr. Morong. I enjoyed the vegetation of the Mt. and delighted to see the old friends I had collected long ago. Arenaria groenlandica , Diapensia lapponica & Carex rigida, v. bigelowiiwith Poa nemoralis was abundant on the top. Diapensia was

56 — 1894 — well along in fruit. A little below the summit Solidago virgaurea, var. alpina made dashes of yellow, and lower still, where the trees grow, bu the track. I never saw such fine fruiting, specimens of Sambucus racemosus. The bunches of coral red berries were remarkably large and full. Sedum latifolium was among the rocks by the track. I longed to go down to Tuckerman's Ravine a Lake-of-the-Clouds to get some of the rarer Alpine plants. But it was too much to think of for our short trip, and I had the consolation to feel that my Herbarium was well stocked with flower and fruit of all these Mt. plants. We bought some trinkets to take home, and came down on the 2 o'clock train, going through our experience of the afternoon before except that we were pitching down instead of up. It was a strange feeling to roll off from the platform on the first curve. One thing we saw was wonderfully interesting. One of the workmen slid down from the sum

57 1894 mit to the first tank, on his slide-board without using his brake. The board is some 4 feet long by 8 or 10 in. wide and fits on the central rail of the track. A brake is held in each hand and one has perfect control. The rider sits upright with his feet against a brace. His arms are straight by his side, and his hand hold the brakes. A slight upward full cheeks the speed. The descent from the summit to the base is often made in 4 minutes and it has been made in about 3 1/2 min. The distance is [blank]. We returned home as we came, but we had an hours wait at Fabyan's. Theis enabled us to visit the house. We walked through the lower story. It is a very large buidling, with an enormous parlor. A band was playing ont the piazza. In the main hall was an aquarium of trout. There is a fine view of the Presidential Range. Madison & Adams do not show. We to home by 6 o'clock, and we must warmly greeted. It was a most sucessful trip and I shall always remember my Aunt's kindness, in sending me up. Aug. 1 { Diapenisa lapponica, L. Fruit. Summit of Mt. Washington In clumps among the rocks near the very top. { Stellaria borealis, Bigel. {Fruit. Summit of Mt. Washington In clumps among the rocks near the very top.}

101 1896 Dec 27 Cambridge Spent the AM at the Gray Herb. Have got now over 1300 sheets into the mounting boxes. Called at Dr [?] first. He went over with me. Read "Camping in the {Canadian} Rockies."

Dec 28 Gray Hb. in the AM putting Club plants into the box. Worked on my herb. & read the PM.

Dec 29 To town again to Hard & Miss Wales. Pleasant time. Gray Hb this PM Finished putting Willliams plants in the box. Lecture at the Fogg Art {Museum} by Mr. Agassiz on "Deep Sea Dredging." Extremely interesting.

Dec 30 To town. Went to hear Prof Wilson lecture on the "Cell" at the Fog Art — Met Dr Kennedy & Prof Brainherd — Delighted to meet Prof B. Worked in the PM at the Gray Herb. Last evening looked up some Salics for G.U. {George Upham} Hay.

Dec 31 To town. Dr Brainherd lunched with us at 1.30. We had a fine time in the PM looking up plants & talking. He is a charming man — We took the 5.18 train for Dr Kennedy's — E. {Edwin} Faxon joined us and we had a charming time. Home by 10.35 — I find on my table from Aunt Anna to celebrate our wedding day, "Gibsons Edible Mushrooms"!!