8 



Etsch. Their beds are too stony to allow of the growth of water 

 weeds, and so, from a naturalist's point of view, the_y are not par- 

 ticularly interesting. The sunny valley of the Etsch, some two 

 miles wide, runs north-west from Botzen for about twenty miles 

 to Meran, and southwards from Botzen for forty-five miles down to 

 Roveredo. The valley and many of the lower slopes are given over 

 to the cultivation of the vine, and, in later years, extensive apple 

 orchards have been laid out, especially towards Meran. Owing to 

 the dryness of the climate all the land under cultivation is watered 

 by an elaborate system of irrigation. Here and there, it is true, 

 there are reed beds, but these are not extensive. With the exception 

 of this narrow valley, all the country is mountainous. The moun- 

 tains rise rather abruptly, so that with a stiff climb of two-and-a- 

 half to three hours one can gain an elevation of over 3,000 feet 

 above the sea. One needs to be a good walker to enjoy this country, 

 as there are few roads, except, of course, along the valleys. The 

 wants of those villagers who live on the hills have to be supplied by 

 imeans of the old-fashioned pack-horse, and it is no uncommon sight 

 to see two or three of these animals climbing up the rocky paths. 

 Except where the mountains rise almost perpendicularly, as they do 

 in one or two places, as for instance along the Seiter We2, their 

 slopes are well wooded. Small oak trees, which retain their brown 

 leaves through the winter, cover the slopes to a considerable height 

 and then give way to the pines. These smaller mountains are 

 mostly of an elevation of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet, but behind them 

 rise higher masses and peaks, such as the Sarner Sharte, which 

 appears to block up the northern end of the Sarnthal,and the grand 

 mass called the Schlern ; both these are over 8,000 feet, while the 

 beautiful Rosengarten is over 10,000 feet. The spire-like peaks 

 which bear this name are in winter coloured a beautiful rose red by 

 the setting sun. For a short period in the Spring this rose colour 

 changes to orange each night before it fades away. As every one 

 knows, there is some intense and subtle charm about mountains. 

 We regard them as masses of rock which have remained practically 

 unchanged for centuries and yet, viewed from a distance, they 

 change their appearance with every season, even with every hour of 

 the day. 



There is one feature of a mountainous country which appears 

 to be unknown to many of the dwellers of the plains. There are 

 certain spots, often of very restricted area, which lie in shelter from 

 the colder winds, but open to every ray of sunshine. In such 

 situations both flowers and insects show themselves long before 

 they do in less favoured spots, and it is in such sunny corners that 

 the observer naturally looks for the first signs ol Spring. One of 

 these sheltered places we found on the southern slope of the great 

 Guntschnaborg which rises above the townlet of Gries, where we 

 stayed. Tlie authorities of Gries are very much to be commended 

 for the beautiful walk they have cut up the side of the mountain. 



