500 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1926 
trated by a Federal commission made up of members of the three 
contracting parties, the use of the park for scientific ends was to 
be organized by the Helvetic Society, the Swiss League was to 
furnish the finances as laid down by its statutes, and the control of 
the park was to be under the care of the Federal Council. 
At last the efforts of the nature enthusiasts were crowned with 
success. The project was brought before the National Council 
(Parliament), a brilliant report in support was read which closed 
with the wish that the park should add another feature to the be- 
loved face of the home country. It is true that in the discussion 
that followed one or two dissenting voices were heard, particularly 
from a member of Parliament for Glarus, who feared that the dis- 
trict inclosed would become the haunt of beasts and birds of prey 
which would be a danger to the surrounding country. He even pre- 
tended to suspect the Austrians of taking advantage of the situa- 
tion and sending over all the bears, wolves and other terrible animals 
which infest their country. An enterprising legislator thought that 
the park could be made to serve as a means of national defense by 
using the wild animals against anyone who dared to violate the neu- 
trality of the eastern frontier, and thus a national saving on the 
score of military defence could be made. ‘The project was eventually 
adopted by 107 votes to 13. The law was passed on April 3, 1914, 
and came into force on August 1, 1914, and thus the park became 
a permanent national institution. 
Since this date most of the territory making up the national park 
has been conceded to the Confederation on interminable leases or 
sold outright to it. But parts of the Val Scarl and Val Plavna still 
remain under a 25 years’ lease, and in spite of negotiations it has 
been impossible to come to terms with the various communes or to 
extend the park to the banks of the Inn. 
FLORA 
Due to its position and varying altitude, the park region possesses 
a rich flora, ranging from valley to snow line and including both 
eastern and western Alpine species. Many of the rarest plants of 
Switzerland are found only in this district. The greater part of the 
park hes within the sub-Alpine pine forest line. The dark heavy 
cloak of the tall black forests of the Engadine covers the shoulders 
of the mountains up to a height of 2,300 meters (Val Scarl). Parts 
have still a rather primeval aspect. Here are found in abundance 
the fir (Abies alba), the yew (Taxus baccata), and savin (Juniperus 
sabina). 'The slopes of the high valleys between Scanfs and Schuls 
are thick with spruce (Picea excelsa), which ascends to an altitude 
of about 2,000 meters and then is replaced by the cembra pine (Pinus 
