068 Dr James Macaulay on the Physical Geography ^ 



The vine is not much cultivated beyond 2000 feet above the 

 sea. From this height to the summit of the first range of 

 mountains (which form the boundary of the view from Fun- 

 chal) there are forests of chestnut, pine, and other European 

 trees, with thickets of broom, heath, and furze ; and the violet, 

 foxglove, thyme, vinca, are among the flowers that charac- 

 terize the zone of vegetation. The Serra de St Antonio is in 

 altitude about the upper limit of the region ; and on it, as I 

 have said, the tree heath and Madeiran bilberry grow luxu- 

 riantly. At the same elevation begin to prevail the laurels 

 and other native evergreens. Of these the most conspicuous 

 are the Laurus hidica, or Madeira Mahogany tree ; the Til 

 (Laurtis foetens), the Laiirtts Canariensis ; the Myrica Faya ; 

 and some of the Taxew. Between the upper limit of the vines 

 and that of the laurels a great variety of ferns, and also many 

 indigenous Compositse and Labiatse, are found. On the highest 

 summits, the verdure seems chiefly to consist of grasses or of 

 heaths. 



From these few remarks the variety of climate, as indicated 

 by the vegetation, is sufficiently obvious. The range of eleva- 

 tion, however, is too limited ; and the vegetation presents too 

 few marked transitions, to render the description of any fixed 

 zones of distribution a subject of much interest or importance. 

 That which strikes every one is the astonishing combination of 

 climates, and this depending more on particular aspects and 

 situations than on mere elevation. On the north side of the 

 island there is little variety of vegetation perceptible, except- 

 ing in some of the valleys and sheltered recesses ; and it is 

 only in a few spots of the south that tropical plants can flourish, 

 and the range of vegetation be thereby increased. The extent 

 of this range is remarkably illustrated by the variety of fruits 

 that come to perfection. Dates, guavas, limes, citrons, bana- 

 nas, and a host of other tropical fruits, are in the gardens be- 

 low ; while above, the apple, nectarine, gooseberry, chestnut, 



sure than most of the Madeira quintas possess. The height above the sea 

 beiug about 2000 feet, the cultivation of many of the plants of colder climates 

 is permitted ; and part of tlie ground has quite the appeai-ance of an English 

 garden. There arc also some plantations of European forest-trees. The 

 orange-tree flourishe?, but the cultiration of the vine does not reach so high. 



