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tree at a height of 5,254 feet: and on the Koksunchen Snow 

 Mountains (their east and western sides) at 5,692 feet. On 

 the Snowy Mountains of Ulbinski to the Kreuzberge at Rid- 

 dersk, where the Larch forms the boundary, these trees now 

 cease at 5,500 Parisian feet, whilst their dry stems may be 

 seen at a height of 6,187 feet. As to the grouping of the 

 different kinds of trees, the following remarks suggested 

 themselves to my observation. Birch, Firs, and Pines are in 

 the lower situations. The Birch [Betula alba) rises no higher 

 than 4,536 feet on the Ridderschen Kreuzberge : on the east 

 side of the Koksun Snow Mountains it ascends to an eleva- 

 tion of 5,236 Parisian feet. Pines, which are seen on the 

 sandy soil of the steppes, and are also common on the granite 

 rocks among the mountains, seldom appear higher than 3,000 

 Parisian feet above the sea. Firs, on the contrary, which I 

 have not observed on the steppe between Barnaul and 

 Schlangenberg, though very frequently while journeying 

 westward from Barnaul, forming forests with Pine-trees, and 

 which are very common likewise on the mountains, ascend 

 to an elevation of 5,272 Parisian feet; although at 4,000 

 feet they become more rare. Pinus sibirica grows with the 

 two latter trees at the foot of the mountains, but still oftener 

 along with P. Abies ; and at a height of 2,000 to 2,300 feet, it is 

 very abundant. From 4,000 feet upwards, this species occurs in 

 greater numbers as P. Abies disappears : and at 4,000 to 5,000 

 feet it forms large and close forests. I have never observed 

 it beyond 5,272 feet; its limit being the same as that of 

 the Fir. I do not recollect having met with Larch trees 

 below an elevation of 2,550 feet. Their highest boundary is 

 on the Bidder Kreuzberge, 5,500 Parisian feet; at 4,000 feet 

 they begin to form extensive woods, everywhere covering the 

 north side of the mountains ; as, for instance, the Cholsun, 

 the Listwiiga, and several others. Pinus Cembra first occurs 

 at 4,000 feet; but it is never so numerous as to cover a tract of 

 country to the comparative exclusion of other trees. I have 

 only heard of a forest of Cedars at Tschetschulicha, never 

 having seen it myself, which was stated to attain a greater 

 elevation than any other tree here, even 6,541 Parisian feet. 



