54 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



odoratufn, Viola tricolor, Lychnis alpina, etc. This association 

 extends to the bottom slope of the valley, where it meets and 

 extends into larch forest (PI. III. fig. 6). The density of stocking 

 of the forest is very low, with the result that the meadow associa- 

 tion completely covers the soil. The small chalet (PI. III. fig. 6) 

 indicates the centre from which grazing operations in the forest 

 are carried on. This zone of open larch forest extends in a strip 

 along both sides of the valley. The individual trees are almost 

 of a park type, as each stem has ample room for development. 

 The branches extend down to the ground and the trees are 

 pyramidal in shape. The development in height-growth is 

 poor, and evidences of natural regeneration are very rare. 



Ascending to the middle valley slope where the ground is 

 too steep for grazing cattle the type of forest changes, and an 

 association oi Pinus Cembra with some admixture of larch occurs 

 (PI. III. fig. 9). This formation is normal and corresponds to 

 the description already given for the type. 



At still higher elevations, up to over 7000 feet, and occupying 

 all the land not under forest, occur the typical upland meadows 

 of the Alps. These are managed on the chalet system, which 

 is as follows : — In summer the cattle, sheep and goats are 

 driven from the valleys to the upland meadows. The sheep and 

 goats are put on the highest pastures, which are usually 

 comparatively dry, while the cattle graze the lower and moister 

 meadows. The milk of the cows and goats is manufactured 

 into butter and cheese in the chalet. In autumn all the stock 

 descends to the valleys. It is interesting to note that there are 

 records that a similar system of grazing was formerly practised 

 in certain districts of Scotland. 



The primary effect of grazing on this association is to 

 disturb the ecological equilibrium, since the cattle are selective 

 in their feeding. Such a modification was clearly shown in the 

 Bernina Pass where a grazed area was observed to adjoin an 

 ungrazed area. In the moister parts of the cattle pastures, e.g. 

 on plateaux and in slight depressions, etc., the land is worked 

 into small hillocks (such as occur on alluvial land which is 

 subject to flooding). The cattle construct a network of irregu- 

 larly winding paths, which they always keep to, and so the 

 ground forming the meshes of the network in time becomes 

 much higher than the paths. The tops of these hillocks are 

 comparatively dry, and often crowned with tufts of alpine rose 



