in Provence and the Cevenncs. 319 



the number of species being much smaller than it 

 is in more favoured localities. Here is found the Aleppo 

 pine, which characterises the hot districts bordering tiie 

 Mediterranean, the broad-leaved kinds being chiefl}' those 

 with persistent leaves, such as the wild olive and the ever- 

 green oak (Q. Ilex). The trees do not attain such large 

 dimensions as those in the north, but they are of sufiicient 

 girth to yield useful timber, and they grow wherever they 

 can find a little soil in which to establish themselves. The 

 shrubs are for the most part evergreen, and bushy in form, 

 one of the principal kinds being the dwarf oak [Q. cocci/era), 

 which, growing to a height of about 3 feet, fairly covers 

 the ground in places ; it is associated with several species 

 of juniper and other shrubs. The herbaceous plants are 

 chiefly those which characterise limestone soil in hot 

 regions, most of them having rigid leaves and highly 

 scented flowers; such, for example, as the lavender, tlie rose- 

 mary, and thyme. An undergrowth thus constituted protects 

 the soil, which, however, is not of a nature very liable to 

 erosion, whilst it acts to some extent in arresting the pro- 

 gress of forest fires, which cannot spread rapidly through it. 

 In the part of the hills we were passing through, the lime- 

 stone rock was visible everywhere, there being hardly any 

 soil upon it — -none at all, indeed, in many places ; but in 

 spite of this, and of the ill-usage the forest, which is 

 private property, is subjected to, there is a light crop of pine 

 and oak growing spontaneously ; the latter being treated 

 as a simple coppice, cut for fuel every five years. Sheep 

 are admitted, but not in large numbers, and it is probable 

 that the harm they do is small, in comparison with that 

 caused by over-cutting, there being little doubt that, if this 

 were restricted, a fine forest could be raised in spite of the 

 limited grazing that is practised. There were a great 

 many caterpillars on the pines, which seemed to suffer a 

 good deal in consequence. As we rose higher up the 

 valley, the hills became more bare of trees, and their 

 appearance, furrowed by dry water-courses, marked by 

 immerous small landslips, and scored over by a network of 

 sheep-tracks, forcibly reminded those of us who had been 

 in the Punjab, of some parts of that province. As we 

 mounted still higher the slopes became even more barren. 



