ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALASKA. 83 
To one who has been used to botanical collecting in the 
clear atmosphere and dry climate of southern Oregon or 
California this region is particularly trying. The prevalent 
rains and almost continuously overcast skies render the 
greatest care imperative in order to secure good specimens, 
and it is necessary to change driers twice and in some in- 
stances three times a day in order to have satisfactory results 
with certain plants. Among the most difficult might be 
named Nymphæœa polysepala, Viola Langsdorffii, Fatsia 
horrida (both flower and fruit), Sambucus racemosa (flower 
and fruit) Boschniakia glabra, Habenaria hyperborea, H. 
leucostachys, and Lysichiton Kamtschatcense. An alcoholic 
solution of bichloride of mercury is serviceable in prevent. 
ing mildew in such plants while in process of drying. 
The quantity of rain which actually falls does not give a 
non-resident a proper idea of the difficulties of botanizing in 
such a climate, as the number of rainy days in proportion 
to the amount of rain is much greater than in the prairie 
States, while the proportion of cloudy days and the conse- 
quent difficulty of drying specimens is still greater. 
To better illustrate the meteorological conditions, 1 give 
herewith a record for the months of June, July, and August, 
the three least humid months of the year, for the seasons of 
1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. 
BEREE E EA EAEE HOMI 
1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 
Le 
3 > 5 : 
ga ea £g £ 
a Py - : 
eet 21 3a ba 1541.8 1:591 3 
; 3 ; * ó a ó 
z a £5 B 1m B [LE Š 
^ Inches Inches. Inches. 
zum. b [Aul aw! uH] MI M e 
Mos. E PIENE 23 esi | 22 9.26 | 20 3.97 | 17 5.85 
MUON ii Sic seater ks 28 | 1061 | 2 | 1270 | 19 949 | 26 8.68 
Total for 3 months... 70 21.04 68 26.56 eo | 22.08 64 21.30 
E S e xem EE EA AE E a HN BUS PHA UE 
