Poppelwell. — Plant Covering of the Carrie Mountains. 121 



Topography. 



The Garvie Mountains consist of an elevated range running to a height 

 in places of over 6,000 ft. Most of the range is over 4,000 ft. high, the 

 principal peaks being East Dome (4,350 ft,), The Steeple (4,796 ft,), Mount 

 Tennyson (5,014 ft,), Mount Cameron (5,959 ft,), The Gap (5,925 ft,), and 

 Rocky Mount (6,086 ft,). The rocks are mostly schistose, and on the tops 

 are weathered in many places into strange and grotesque forms. Here and 

 there huge shafts or pillars stand up against the sky-line, while in other 

 places great areas of smooth flat-topped rocks give shelter to an interesting 

 and varied plant-life. 



Near the Remarkable Gap some five or six lakes have been formed 

 at a height of over 4,000 ft. The principal lakes are Blue Lake and Gow's 

 Lake. From these natural reservoirs rocky and in some cases almost pre- 

 cipitous torrents dash down to the lower valleys. Most of the ridges are 

 rounded on the tops, and many of them are covered with extensive peat 

 bogs, dotted over with numerous lagoons. These bogs are difficult to 

 travel over, but rich in flora. The ascent of the mountains is for the most 

 part comparatively easy, and a good deal of it could be accomplished on 

 horseback. Many of the tops, however, can only be negotiated by strenuous 

 climbing on foot. 



Ecological Conditions. 



The rounded tops of many of these mountains result in the water- 

 content of the soil at the upper levels being generally greater than might be 

 expected. The average rainfall is not very great, nor do I think the number 

 of rainy days excessive, the area being, in fact, just on the border of the dry 

 district of Central Otago. The elevated nature of the country means that 

 it is frequently snowing here when rain is falling in the lower valleys.* The 

 flattened ridges swept by the westerly gales result in a greater degree of 

 snow-drift than would be found on rougher ground. The heads of the gullies 

 and lee slopes of the ridges where these drifts accumulate become great 

 reservoirs, from which melting snow-water percolates through the soil and 

 keeps it moist, In many places these snow-streams become blocked, and, 

 spreading out, produce large areas of peat bog, the sour, wet soil in parts 

 being too sodden for any but the scantiest vegetation. On the other hand, 

 during the summer months the rocky areas are subject to drying winds 

 and extreme insolation, especially those with a northerly aspect, Strong 

 south-west winds also leave their mark upon the vegetation, the exposed 

 heights being covered with a complete mantle of various cushion plants, 

 particulars of which are noted later. 



Numerous deep' gorges result in a lessened light, and provide suitable 

 situations for shade-loving species. The lower altitudes, of course, have 

 less snow and more rainfall, the latter soon running off and leaving dry 

 hillsides and a consequently reduced list of species. In the lower gullies 

 beech forest prevails, some of the trees being very tall, especially on the 

 mountain-slopes, where the sun strikes less directly. Both sheep and 

 cattle graze plentifully on these mountains in the summer months, and these 

 have naturally somewhat affected the plant associations, but not yet to 

 such a marked extent as to be very important. Fire, on the other hand, 

 has materially changed the association in some cases, but in others there is a 

 tendency for the burnt spots to reclothe themselves with their lost covering. 



* The average annual recorded rainfall at Lumsden for the last seven years is only 

 33-01 in., and the number of rainy days 172. 



