RETORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AXD BOTANIST 209 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



crops were dealt with, and particular reference was made to the disastrous outbreak of 

 the Variegated Cutworm in 1000. The farmers of the whole province are to be con- 

 gratulated on the activity of the Department of Agriculture, and the prompt manner 

 in which the best-known remedy, the bran and Paris green mash, had been brought 

 before the country through the public press by the Deputy Minister. A tribute was 

 paid to the agricultural and daily press for the way in which they always published 

 at once any matter likely to be helpful to farmers, recognizing that anything which 

 affected the prosperity of the farmer affected that of the whole community. 



On August 14, we started on a collecting trip up Mount Che-am. Driving 12 

 miles to Popcum, we called on Mr. Eb. Knight, who helped us very much in getting 

 suitable guides, and by 9 o'clock we started on the ascent of this interesting moun- 

 tain, which, rising from the level of the river 30 feet above sea level, runs up to a 

 height of about 8,000 feet, and presents exceptional advantages for examining the 

 fauna and flora of the various altitudes. The weather was magnificent, and large 

 collections were made during the ascent. By 6.30 an extensive plateau at about 7,000 

 feet was reached, and camp was made for the night. This plateau is an undulating 

 meadow stretching from where we came on to it for about a mile to a deep valley 

 out of which Angel Peak or Mount Che-am proper rises to the north, and Lady Moun- 

 tain, flanked by Deer Ridge, to the south. This mountain meadow is one extended 

 garden of exquisite beauty with the greatest variety of mountain flowers. Covering 

 almost the whole surface of this elevated upland are dwarf bushes of the Mountain 

 Blueberry {Vaccinium Myrtillus), not more than a few inches high in many 

 places, but crowded with pink bells ; here and there are large beds of crimson, 

 green, and white Mountain Heather {Bryan thus empetriformis, B. glanduliflorus and 

 Cassiope Mertensiana), of Purple Lupins {Lupinus Nootlcatensis), Golden Ground- 

 sels {Senecio aureus and 8. canus), Arnicas (A. latifulia, and A. cordifolia), white- 

 flowered Valerians {Valeriana Sitchensis). There again tall wand-like spikes of Ver- 

 atrum viride with handsome broad leaves and green flowers, standing up in a sea of 

 waving grasses and sedges, dotted with the bright starry flowers of Mountain Pleabane 

 (Erigeron salsuginosus), their delicate purplish flowers contrasting beautifully 

 with dwarf Goldenrods {Solidago 7nultiradiata, var. scopuloruni) , Potentillas {P. 

 fruticosa), White-flowered Spiraea pectinata and blue-tinged Pentstemons (P. confertus, 

 var. ca?ruleo-purpureus) , with in some places the gorgeous scarlet tufts of a Castilleja 

 and numberless golden-flowered Glacier-lilies {Eryihrouium grandiflorum). In low 

 spots along streams of snow water, beds of bright yellow buttercups {Ranunculus 

 Eschschollzii), starry white flowers of Caltha Icptosepala and the crimson spikes of the 

 handsome mountain musk {Mimulus Lewisii) were seen. On flats wet with snow 

 water, the delicate white flowers of Claytonia sessilifolia covered the ground in com- 

 pany with the bright yellow-flowered Potent ilia gelida. In a boggy spot with a stream 

 running through it were stiff tufts of mountain coltsfoot {Petasites frigida) and the 

 delicate little Mimulus luieus, var. alpinus, with its hair-like stems and small leaves 

 bearing very little resemblance to the typical species, pushed its large flowers above the 

 icy cold saturated moss. On the upper slopes grew clumps of the silvery Luina hypo- 

 leuca, the delicate mountain Hare-bell {Campanula rotundifolia, var. alpina) with 

 its large blue flowers, Aplopappus Lyallii with blossoms of a bright orange, and Troxi- 

 mon aurantiacum of a variety with purple flowers. Higher up towards the psak 

 Phlox Douglasii, Penlstemon Menziesii, and Silene acaulis were abundant, and, high- 

 est of all, Smelowskia calycina. The trees and shrubs most abundant on the upper 

 levels were gnarled and stunted trees of Tsuga Pattoniana and an Abies like grandis. 

 Both of these trees, however, when in protected valleys, even up near the summit be- 

 tween Angel Mountain and Lady Mountain, grew to great size, several trees being 

 over three feet in diameter. Among the most noticeable shrubs were Pyrus sambuci- 

 folia with pink-tinged flowers, Rhododendron albiflorum with its delicate green 

 tinted white bells, Ribcs laxifiorum and dwarf mountain willows, Salix commutata, 

 with handsome foliage, and perfect fruiting bushes of the minute Salix nivalis, 

 16—14 



