the same blight which attacked them last year; it has not, however, done so much mischief this season, nor have its ravages been so general. Those bushes which stand alone, surrounded by grass, escaped in many cases; those in our neighborhood have been attacked, and the richer the earth, the more they seem to have suffered.
Monday, 9th.—Brilliant, warm weather. Thermometer 80 in the shade.
Walked in the woods; went in search of the large two-leaved orchis, a particular plant, which we have watched for several years, as it is something of a rarity, having been seen only in two places in the neighborhood. We found the large, shining leaves lying flat on the ground, in the well-known spot, but some one had been there before us and broken off the flower-stalk. The leaves of this orchis are among the largest and roundest in our woods.
The handsome, large purple-fringed orchis is also found here, but we have not seen it this summer. The country people call it soldier's plume; it is one of our most showy flowers.
Tuesday, 10th.—Warm, cloudless weather. Thermometer 84 in the shade. Pleasant row on the lake toward sunset.
The water is beautifully clear; as we rowed along we could see what was going on far below the surface. The fish kept out of view; we only observed a few small perch. The soil of the lake, if one may use the phrase, varies much in character; along the eastern shore one looks down upon a pavement of rounded gray stones, with here and there the wreck of a dead tree, lying beneath the waves it once shaded; coasting the western bank, one finds reaches of clean sand, with a few shells of fresh water muscles scattered about, and colorless leaves of last year's growth, oak
