t. 



rnor. c. c. babtngton on the plora op Iceland. 283 



Birch and Willow, about 10 or, possibly, 12 feet iu height. 



The remains of Birch-trees {B. glutinosa, Er.), wliieh are said to 



have been 12 feet or more in height, and had trunks at least 



2 feet in thickness, are to be found in several places. They 



formed woods extending for several miles along the valleys where 



they grew. (See Betula qlutinosa in the following Flora.) 



My friend Mr. E. Magniisson, a native of the eastern part 



of Iceland, informs me that these valuable woods, which were 



destroyed by the carelessness of the inhabitants, are likely to 



, be restored by natural growth now that attention is paid to 

 them. 



The chief product of the country is hay, without which the 

 horses, cows, and sheep could not be kept alive in the winter ; 

 the extensive boggy meadows produce excellent hay, although 

 the still more extensive bogs are unproductive. 



Arterial drain; ^ 

 tending the available pasture-land, and thus adding to the pros- 

 perity of the country, which depends so much upon the live 

 stock which can be kept through the winter. 



Owing to the presence of an enormous mass of icy mountains 

 (Jokula) near the south coast, the northern parts of Iceland are 

 the more productive portions of the island. I am informed that 

 there large crops of excellent potatos are raised, more hay is 

 made, and there is more garden-culture than exists in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Reykjavik and in other south-western districts. 



The vegetation is essentially European; only 62 species are 

 found which do not form part of the British flora. Of these a list 

 is given, pointing out the other countries in which they grow. 

 Nearly all the species inhabit Scandinavia ; and not more than 

 three are decidedly arctic, viz. Oentiana detonsa, PJeurogyne 

 rotata, and Epilohium Jatifolium, This want of truly Arctic spe- 

 cies may be partly caused by the Gulf Stream diverting the Arctic 

 current from the Icelandic shores. 



It might perhaps be supposed that the flora of Iceland had 

 received so much attention during the last hundred years that 

 no further research was wanted, and no additional publication 

 concerning it desirable. But, my attention having been directed 

 to the subject by becoming possessed of a considerable number 

 of Icelandic plants, I have found that much doubt still exists as 

 to the presence in the island, or absence from it, of many species. 

 The most rAP^nflir tmiTiIiqTip^ lioin nf fhp flora are not more, even 



hJ" 



