84 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



all new houses, so that they harmonise externally at least with 

 their more venerable neighbours. The situation of the town 

 is quite unique, as it is built upon a narrow tongue of land 

 formed by a U-shaped bend of the river Aare, over which the 

 old wooden bridge still stands. The combined effect is to give 

 an impressive air of antiquity to the whole town. 



Under the leadership of Dr Fankhauser and the city gardener, 

 an inspection was made of the avenues which are so character- 

 istic of the country in the vicinity of Berne. All the roads here 

 have been converted into avenues by planting broad-leaved 

 trees along either side at distances of from ten to twenty yards 

 apart. The species usually planted are ash, elm, sycamore, 

 chestnut, plane and walnut. 



A return to the town was made by way of the Botanic 

 Gardens, where Dr Fischer received us and demonstrated his 

 very fine collection of Alpine plants. The Alpine Museum 

 was next visited, where a description was given in English by 

 Dr Nussbaum of the geological formations of the Alps. 



In the course of the morning the President, Captain Stirling, 

 had arrived, thus completing the party which now numbered 

 sixty-six members. 



From Berne on Sunday afternoon the company set out by- 

 train for Scherzligen on Lake Thun, from which point steamer 

 was taken to Interlaken. The sail along the lake under ideal 

 weather conditions showed to best advantage, perhaps, the natural 

 grandeur of this part of the country. The deep blue waters of 

 the glacier-fed lake contrasted sharply with the dark ridges fring- 

 ing them, while in the distance the glistening Jungfrau complex 

 formed a majestic horizon. The town of Interlaken, although 

 low-lying, is very pretty, having a picturesque situation upon 

 the neck of land between the two lakes of Thun and Brienz. 



Mr Pulver and Mr Marti, the officials of the Department of 

 Woods and Forests of the Canton, received the party here. 

 Interlaken extended a kindly welcome to its visitors that 

 evening, and the password "Ecossais" gave free access to its 

 various places of entertainment. 



SCHYNIGE PLATTE. 

 The ascent of the Schynige Platte (6463 feet) was made 

 early on Monday morning by mountain railway. This railway 

 traverses forests of beech, ash and hazel, with a certain admixture- 



