ALPINE PLANTS. 73 



Many Alpine plants, cradled in perpetual snows, 

 and exposed during a great part of the year to the 

 driving of the wintry blasts, which are so common 

 in Switzerland, Lapland, and other cold regions, are 

 so tenacious of their accustomed haunts and habits, 

 that 



" The raging tempest and the mountain's roar, 

 But bind them to their native hills the more; 



and any attempt to grow them in a milder climate is 

 generally attended with failure. These plants are 

 mostly quite diminutive, although they sometimes 

 produce flowers of considerable size and beauty. 



The most common color among plants which in- 

 habit very cold countries is white, or a light shade 

 of pink or yellow. Thus, the snow-drop, the lily of 

 the valley, the white-flowered wood-sorrel, are all 

 productions of high northern latitudes; while in 

 warmer regions, the flowers are robed in stronger 

 hues. 



It is observed that mountainous places are generally 

 much more productive than the valleys ; but there is 

 scarcely any situation, however unfavorably located, 

 where plants and flowers are not occasionally met 

 with. They are found 



" Springing in valleys green and low, 



And on the mountains high; 

 And in the silent wilderness, 

 Where no one passes by." 



On one of the highest points in Europe, at the 

 elevation of eight thousand feet above the level of 



7 



