992 



of the hills, we find here and there the linden {Tilia Europcea) , wild 

 chestnut {-Msculus Hippocastanum), aspen {Populus tremula), and 

 black poplar (P. nigra). On flat river-banks and marshy plains, and 

 also occurring in alpine regions, at a height of 2650 feet, the alder 

 {Betula Alnus) and the knotty willow {Salix capraea) flourish, as 

 underwood. A number of experiments, conducted in the neighbour- 

 hood of Blankenburg, during the years 1730-50, show that the Hartz 

 is well suited for the growth of a number of foreign trees {e. g., Ame- 

 rican oak, cherry, tame chestnut, white fir, northern alder, &c.) On 

 the hill-slopes, here and there, may be noticed a few groups of the 

 larch {Pin us Larix), which was first introduced into the Hartz in 

 1731, The Scotch fir {Pinus sylvestris) is sparingly interspersed 

 among the Pinus Abies and P. Larix. The yew {Taxus haccata) 

 grows, as a hermit, on a few barren, rugged rocks, and the juniper 

 {Juniperns communis) on dry and exposed sandy hillocks. The hazel 

 [Corylus Avellana) formerly throve luxuriantly, but has lately disap- 

 peared from the forests, on account of mismanagement. In the woods, 

 Berberis vulgaris, Rosa canina and R. villosa, Pruuus spinosa, and a 

 number of our ordinary herbaceous plants grow plenlifiilly. Rubus 

 IdoBus and R. fruticosus occur, more sparingly, on old walls and 

 rocks.* In the forests of the lower Hartz, the gloomy pine {Pinus 

 Abies) is common ; but it reigns exclusively, attaining a great height, 

 in those of the upper Hartz ; and the value of its timber in this dis- 

 trict is such, that in many places it would be difficult to say whether 

 the pine-woods on the surface, or the rich ores in the bowels of a 

 mountain, were the most valuable. The pine did not formerly cover 

 such an extent of the Hartz mountains as it now does, but has 

 gradually replaced and displaced the oak, beech, birch, &c., which 

 have been destroyed by accident or mismanagement, and which 

 ascended to a much greater height on the hills than at present. The 

 Hartz pines are exceedingly handsome trees, rising to a great height 

 (sometimes 120 feet), and thus making beautiful masts. The hand- 

 somest pines I ever saw were in the valley of the Oker, near Goslar. 

 This tree is daily extending itself in the Hartz, flourishing easily 

 where no other forest tree could attempt to grow. It ascends the 

 mountains to the height of 2800 feet, runs down into the lowland val- 



" * Sorbus Aucuparia is much planted as a border to his^hways, and as an orna- 

 mental hedge or garden plant. The other trees, shrubs, and flowers met with in and 

 about the pine-woods are few and insignificant ; the brown soil being carpeted by the 

 Digitalis purpurea, Epilobium angustifolium, Pyrola uniflora, Melanipyrum sylvati- 

 cutn, Oxulis Acctosclla, and similar sylvan species." 



