University of Virginia Library

Friday, July 6, 1951

A miserable night. 1½ blankets not enough to either keep out
the cold or soften the hardware cloth bed. Only a persistent
mouse for company — plus something which walked off with some
leavings in a paper bag.

Tackled the Bald after breakfast & what a mass. A quick
inspection of the "whites" indicated something fishy afoot —
something obviously besides arborescens. The clues were not on
Gregory, however, so before doing any more collecting decided to
try Parson Bald, a mile or so away, & see what might be
found there. The answer was obvious — in the form of a
beautiful patch of unadulterated viscosum all over the S.
end. Mass collected this & the reds on Parson & returned to
Gregory to finish a mass collection of whites plus one of reds,
one of obvious hybrids & one 20—pace—collection for a
population sample. The effects of arborescens were obvious
but no true arborescens was found — either in the woods
surrounding the "bald" or down the stream below the cabin.
Can only conclude that it was probably once there in smaller
quantity than on Wayah Bald but has now practically become
swamped. The reds are redder but probably of similar ancestry to those of Wayah.

Gathered plenty of fern fronds for a softer & warmer
bed for the second night.