EAST NEPAL AND THE SIKKIM UIMALAYA iMOUNTAIXS. 121 



A leafless purple Ccelogyne ( C. Wallichii ?) is abundant, and 

 makes a gorgeous show on the trees, as do the white-flowered 

 leafy species. 



The gardens at Darjiling are ven,' gay during this month — 

 roses, poppies, snapdragons, heartseases,] larkspurs, pinks, and 

 lupines. Strawberries ripen, and continue in fruit for two 

 months. The cucurbiiaceous vegetables are planted, as melons, 

 cucumbers, squash, &c. Those planted in autumn are now pro- 

 ducing abundantly, as peas, French beans, salads, turnips, and 

 cabbages. 



Middle Zone. — In this region spring is only now established ; 

 much less rain (one-third less) falls above 10,000 feet, in the 

 position marked P in the woodcut, than at Darjiling. Snow 

 occasionally sprinkles the forest, but what falls does not lie on 

 the ground. On the other hand, the winter's snow, still abundant 

 at 12,000 feet, is rapidly melting, and the rivers rise daily. The 

 different pines, Abies Webbiana, Brunoniatia, and the larch 

 flower, as do Viburnum, willow, and juniper. Very few her- 

 baceous plants are advanced, of which the chief are a purple 

 Dentaria, and some other Cruciferce, primroses. Anemone^ 

 Ranunculi, a Gentiana, two large Ariscemas, a purple Saxi- 

 fraga li!;e ciliata, Cotoneaster, Potentilla, and Podophyllum. 



Upper Zone. — So little snow falls here, comparatively speak- 

 ing, that the passes even of 18,000 to 19,000 feet are open this 

 month, but vegetation has made little progress, the soil being 

 frozen in many places. Even the grass is not long enough to be 

 cropped by cattle or sheep. 



Ju7ie. — Mean temperature (7000 ft.) 61 "2° ; of maxima 66*7°, 

 and minima 55'8°. Extremes 71° and 51 "5°. Extremes of radia- 

 tion— solar 126°, terrestrial 47°. Extreme differences — solar 

 62°, terrestrial 4*8°. Mean daily range of temperature, 11°. 

 Mean dew-point, o9"5°; saturation 093°. Rain 26*964 inches 

 (mean of 5 years — maximum 32-68 inches, minimum 12 inches), 

 distributed, in 1849 (when 32*688 inches fell), over every day but 

 7, and every night but 3. Between sunrise and sunset 12*593 

 inches fell ; during the night 20*035 inches. The showers, though 

 heavy and frequent, do not combine to form a continuous down- 

 pour at any time, and there is a good deal of sunshine from 8 to 

 10 A.M., and often at sunset also. 



The flowering season of most of the trees at 7000 feet is now 

 over, but many shrubs blossom, as Polygala, Xanthoxylon, 

 Indigofera, a Magnolia with white sweet-scented globe flowers, 

 SpircEas, Hydrangea, yellow jasmine, various AraliacecE, Neillia, 

 Leycesteria, and shrubby Polygona ; Pyri, many and shrubby ; 

 RosacecB generally ; some laurels and Viburna, vines. Of 

 herbs, balsams now appear prominently, with SheploUrion, Ge- 



